Australia: 10th Farm Hit With H7 Avian Influenza

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While Australia/NZ/Oceania remain free from the H5N1 virus plaguing much of the rest of the globe, they are embroiled in a month-long battle against 3 different avian H7 viruses (H7N8, H7N3 & H7N9) that have have emerged on 10 farms across two states. 

The latest announcement from Agriculture Victoria follows:

While the state agriculture departments have been sparse with details, media reports indicate well over 1 million birds have been lost across these farms to culling over the past 30 days, making this the biggest outbreak in Australian history. 

Like everywhere else in the world, LPAI viruses circulate in Australian birds. Most are considered harmless to poultry and humans, but when an H5 or H7 LPAI virus spreads among poultry, it can sometimes spontaneously mutate into an HPAI strain.

This mutated virus can then be inadvertently spread by moving birds, eggs, feed, equipment or personnel between farms - and less commonly - by local or migratory birds which may pick it up and carry it some distance.

With the exception of China's H7N9 epidemic, human infections with H7 viruses have been generally mild (with a few notable exceptions).  They can be, however, very destructive and difficult to eradicate in poultry. 

But novel influenza viruses are always capable of learning new tricks, so containing outbreaks remains essential.