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No evidence of H5N1 avian influenza in Australia
DAFF06/1D
There is no evidence of the H5N1 strain of avian influenza in Australia, based on surveillance of wild birds and investigations of bird deaths, the Australian Chief Veterinary Officer, Dr Gardner Murray, said today.
“An expanded wild bird surveillance program is now in place as a cooperative effort between the States and the Australian Government, through the Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service’s (AQIS) Northern Australia Quarantine Strategy (NAQS), and with wildlife health networks,” Dr Murray said.
“Australia’s avian influenza policy is based on the premise that the disease could enter Australia via migratory birds, be passed to domestic wild birds such as ducks and water fowl, and then pose a potential risk to production birds.
“There is close cooperation between industry and government, and our policies are to ensure industry has biosecurity measures in place to break the migratory-bird-to-wild-bird-to-production-bird pathway.
“Authorities are focused on being forewarned of problems by gathering intelligence from overseas, ongoing surveillance in Australia plus awareness amongst farmers, shooters, ornithologists and others to report any unusual bird deaths and illness immediately to agricultural authorities.”
Dr Murray said the risk of H5N1 via migratory birds is predominately posed by shore birds and waders in Australia rather than the European experience through ducks and swans.
“It is important for us to remain vigilant,” he said. “Surveillance is, broadly speaking, in two forms: sampling from wild birds, which has been carried out for many years and recently been enhanced, as well as through reporting of suspicious, clinical signs by farmers, wildlife people and others.”
Surveillance is being conducted through NAQS targeting north Western Australia, the Northern Territory and Queensland. The States have additional programs, and there is the Australian Wildlife Health Network with more than 600 people, some of which is funded by the Australian Government.
“Surveillance is, obviously, not 100 per cent sensitive, because we've got to select from many millions of birds. H5N1 has not been detected, and only low pathogenic subtypes of avian influenza that do not cause concern have been picked up,” Dr Murray said.
“Authorities have been alerted to recent unusual bird kills and investigations have concluded they were the result of storm deaths, poisoning and bacterial infection.”
He said Australia is closely monitoring avian influenza developments in Europe and Africa as well as maintaining an ongoing regional focus that includes supporting activities to combat the disease in Asia.
“Animal health and quarantine authorities have been monitoring and responding to the situation since the epidemic first commenced in 2003. Our national disease surveillance and reporting arrangements for avian influenza are aimed at giving us an early warning of its presence so appropriate action can be taken immediately,” he said.
“Australia had extensive experience in handling outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza and, although the H5N1 sub-type of the disease had not occurred here, Australia had proven response plans in place. These were tested recently through Exercise Eleusis ’05.
“In addition, border protection measures have been enhanced, and there are considerable education and awareness initiatives in place to help guard against the introduction of disease into domestic poultry.”
Dr Murray called on producers, and other people with birds, to be very mindful of this disease, and report clinical signs such as a loss of production and unusual deaths whether in wild or domestic birds to State and Territory agriculture authorities, local vets, or by phoning the 1800 675 888 hotline.
Key facts about avian influenza are attached along with a web site address for further information.
Contact: Howard Conkey (02) 6272 3572 or 0419 014 817