New Zealand Halts Poultry Exports After Bird Flu Confirmed at Egg Farm
Bird Flu Outbreak Halts New Zealand Poultry Exports
Wellington, New Zealand – New Zealand has temporarily suspended all poultry exports following the detection of bird flu at an egg farm in the Otago region. The move comes as concerns about avian influenza rise globally.
Food Safety Minister Andrew hoggard announced the export halt on Monday,stating that the suspension is necessary to maintain New Zealand’s reputation as a bird flu-free nation for international trade purposes.
“For trade purposes we have to say for a number of countries that we are free of high pathogen avian influenza,” Hoggard told Radio New Zealand. “We can obviously no longer say that at the moment. Once we are able to say that again then we’ll be working to restore that trade.”
The affected farm,Mainland Poultry,is a commercial free-range operation. Biosecurity New Zealand confirmed the presence of a high pathogenic H7N6 subtype of avian influenza in the chickens.
While this strain is not the H5N1 variant causing widespread concern globally, Biosecurity New Zealand Deputy Director-General Stuart Anderson emphasized the seriousness of the situation.
“While it is not the H5N1 type circulating among wildlife around the world that has caused concern,we are taking the find seriously,” Anderson said in a statement.
The H5N1 strain has been spreading rapidly through US poultry and dairy farms, raising concerns about potential human transmission. While most human infections have been limited to farm workers exposed to infected animals, health officials remain vigilant for any signs of wider spread.
Anderson reassured the public that the H7N6 strain found in new Zealand is “unlikely to be transmitted to mammals.”
Currently, there are no reports of illness or death among birds on other poultry farms, and there are no immediate human health or food safety concerns.
Biosecurity New Zealand believes the laying hens at Mainland Poultry were likely exposed to a low pathogenic virus from wild waterfowl, wich can mutate when interacting with chickens.
As a precautionary measure, a 10-kilometer (six-mile) buffer zone has been established around the affected farm. Strict movement controls are in place, preventing the movement of animals, equipment, and feed in and out of the area. Approximately 40,000 birds will be culled to prevent further spread.
bird Flu Outbreak Hits New Zealand Poultry, Halting Exports
Wellington, New Zealand – The detection of bird flu at an egg farm in otago has prompted New Zealand to temporarily halt all poultry exports. Food Safety Minister Andrew Hogg confirmed the suspension on Monday, explaining that this action is crucial to maintain the country’s reputation as a bird flu-free nation for international trade.
The affected farm, Mainland Poultry, is a commercial free-range operation. Biosecurity New Zealand identified the presence of a high pathogenic H7N6 subtype of avian influenza in the chickens.
Although not the H5N1 variant causing global concern, Biosecurity New Zealand Deputy Director-General Stuart Anderson stressed the seriousness of the situation. While the H7N6 strain is unlikely to be transmitted to mammals,a 10-kilometer (six-mile) buffer zone has been established around the affected farm.
Strict movement controls are in place, and approximately 40,000 birds will be culled to prevent the spread of the virus. Currently, ther are no reported illnesses or deaths among birds on other poultry farms, and no immediate human health or food safety concerns.
Biosecurity New Zealand believes the laying hens were likely exposed to a low-pathogenic virus from wild waterfowl, which can mutate when interacting with chickens.
The suspension of exports comes as the H5N1 strain spreads rapidly through US poultry and dairy farms, raising global concerns about potential human transmission.
The New Zealand government is working to restore poultry exports as quickly as possible once the situation is resolved.