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Bird flu risk real, but not high
DAFF06/3D
Australia’s Chief Veterinary Officer, Dr Gardner Murray, said today Australia has always been well aware of the risk posed by the H5N1 bird flu pandemic, but disputed a claim the chance of an outbreak in Australia was currently ‘very high’.
Responding to comments yesterday from World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) director-general Bernard Vallat, Dr Murray said veterinary authorities throughout Australia all agreed that the risk of a domestic case of avian influenza was real, but believed the current threat level remained low.
“While there is a risk of migratory birds introducing the H5N1 strain of avian influenza into Australia, the risk is substantially less than for most other countries because waterfowl, such as ducks, geese and swans, which are the normal host of avian influenza viruses, do not normally migrate to Australia,” Dr Murray said.
“The migratory shorebirds and waders that do come to Australia from infected regions are less likely to carry avian influenza viruses. While these birds do pose a risk, the pathway for transmitting a virus into domestic birds would need to involve a number of intermediate steps.
“Migratory birds would need to infect nomadic wild birds, such as water fowl and ducks, which, in turn, would need to pass it to production birds such as chickens.
“Regardless of whether people assess the risk as high or low, Australian veterinary authorities and industry remain vigilant to the threat posed by this virulent disease.
“Key factors in our favour include the maintenance of strict and long-standing biosecurity arrangements in poultry establishments, ongoing disease surveillance activities both offshore and onshore, and tight border controls.
“In addition, a national simulation to test our response plans for an avian influenza outbreak was held at the end of last year to better prepare for an outbreak of the disease in birds. But it is important to remember we are dealing with a biological agent, and it is virtually impossible to know with absolute certainty how it will continue to evolve and spread.”
Dr Murray said authorities were continually reassessing the risk of H5N1 to Australia in light of developments in Asia, and its westward progression to the Middle East, Europe and Africa, and would elevate the threat level if it spread to Indonesia’s Papua Province and PNG.
“There is currently no evidence of the disease in Australia, but we remain focussed on early detection activities. I again appeal for the poultry industry, bird keepers, duck shooters and the entire community to be alert and report suspicious disease in birds,” he said. “Early detection gives authorities and industry the best chance of mounting an effective response.
“Good biosecurity includes maintaining physical barriers, such as screens to prevent wild birds mingling with production birds, treating water for birds where it is drawn from dams and rivers, ensuring the integrity of feed supplies and good hygiene for people handling birds.”
Dr Murray said Australia’s on-going focus and engagement on the disease in neighbouring countries was highlighted by his chairing of a regional conference in Thailand last week attended by the OIE and the Food and Agriculture Organisation which also discussed strategies to combat foot and mouth disease.
Media contact: Howard Conkey (02) 6272 3572 or 0419 014 817