Health authorities scramble as they reveal the re-emergence of this virus!
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Australia's healthcare sector has been working relentlessly to keep diseases and viruses at bay.
Yet, in a disheartening turn of events, Australia's battle with a certain virus took a sudden and unexpected detour.
The resurgence of the H7 bird flu in Victoria raised concerns among Australians, especially for those who remember past influenza scares and its implications.
The Victorian Department of Agriculture confirmed the presence of the high pathogenicity H7N8 strain.
This strain was a distinct variant from the ones that affected local poultry farms last year and different from the H5N1 strain affecting the rest of the world.
Last 6 February, the federal government announced to the World Organisation for Animal Health that Australia was free from H7 avian influenza.
Australia declared the strain 'eradicated' after no new detections since July 2024, during Australia's 'most significant avian disease incident to date'.
However, its resurgence became a blow to the community.
The re-emergence of the avian influenza posed a risk to both the poultry industry and the wider ecosystem, including humans.
Despite this risk, the Victorian Department of Agriculture assured community members that human risk is low.
Moreover, eggs and poultry products in supermarkets should still be safe for consumption.
In response to the outbreak, the Victorian Department of Agriculture placed a control order around the impacted farm.
The containment spanned approximately five kilometres around the area.
Authorities also added another control area in the eastern portion of the Strathbogie Shire.
These measures aim to prevent the virus from spreading further.
'Avian influenza is commonly spread by wild birds, and unfortunately, despite the business having excellent biosecurity controls in place, poultry have been infected,' Victoria's Acting Chief Veteran, Cameron Bell, explained.
'The business has acted quickly to identify the infection within the flock and are working closely with Agriculture Victoria officers to contain the outbreak.'
See why this avian influenza is affecting kitchens nationwide:
Source: Yahoo Australia/YouTube
The economic repercussions of this outbreak also became a cause for concern.
The 2024 outbreak led to a significant culling of farmed birds.
This culling led to a national egg shortage, leaving Australians scrambling over purchase limits and prices.
With the industry still recovering from the damages brought by avian influenza, prices could remain high in the foreseeable future.
Have you noticed any changes in the availability of eggs and poultry at your local supermarket? Share your experiences and thoughts in the comments below.
Yet, in a disheartening turn of events, Australia's battle with a certain virus took a sudden and unexpected detour.
The resurgence of the H7 bird flu in Victoria raised concerns among Australians, especially for those who remember past influenza scares and its implications.
The Victorian Department of Agriculture confirmed the presence of the high pathogenicity H7N8 strain.
This strain was a distinct variant from the ones that affected local poultry farms last year and different from the H5N1 strain affecting the rest of the world.
A poultry farm located in northern Victoria tested positive for the H7N8 virus. Image Credit: Pexels/Alison Burrell
Last 6 February, the federal government announced to the World Organisation for Animal Health that Australia was free from H7 avian influenza.
Australia declared the strain 'eradicated' after no new detections since July 2024, during Australia's 'most significant avian disease incident to date'.
However, its resurgence became a blow to the community.
The re-emergence of the avian influenza posed a risk to both the poultry industry and the wider ecosystem, including humans.
Despite this risk, the Victorian Department of Agriculture assured community members that human risk is low.
Moreover, eggs and poultry products in supermarkets should still be safe for consumption.
In response to the outbreak, the Victorian Department of Agriculture placed a control order around the impacted farm.
The containment spanned approximately five kilometres around the area.
Authorities also added another control area in the eastern portion of the Strathbogie Shire.
These measures aim to prevent the virus from spreading further.
'Avian influenza is commonly spread by wild birds, and unfortunately, despite the business having excellent biosecurity controls in place, poultry have been infected,' Victoria's Acting Chief Veteran, Cameron Bell, explained.
'The business has acted quickly to identify the infection within the flock and are working closely with Agriculture Victoria officers to contain the outbreak.'
See why this avian influenza is affecting kitchens nationwide:
Source: Yahoo Australia/YouTube
The economic repercussions of this outbreak also became a cause for concern.
The 2024 outbreak led to a significant culling of farmed birds.
This culling led to a national egg shortage, leaving Australians scrambling over purchase limits and prices.
With the industry still recovering from the damages brought by avian influenza, prices could remain high in the foreseeable future.
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