AREAS where there are restrictions on the movement of birds, bird products, equipment and vehicles, for the control of the H7N8 avian influenza (bird flu) outbreak near Euroa, have been reduced.
From Monday 28 April, restrictions will apply only within a new five kilometre control area around the four affected properties near Euroa.
Mandatory movement controls including those for game bird hunters and hunting activities, will no longer apply in areas outside the new control area.
Agriculture Victoria will further revise the restrictions as it continues to monitor for disease, complete decontamination of affected properties and eradicate the outbreak.
Victoria’s Acting Chief Veterinary Officer, Dr Sally Salmon, thanked the poultry industry and the community for their cooperation to date.
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“This is a significant step towards establishing Victoria’s freedom from high pathogenicity avian influenza,” Dr Salmon.
“We have been able to further ease restrictions due to the cooperation and hard work of industry, community and the impacted property owners.
“We are in the final stages of decontaminating the affected premises.
"We have had over 100 staff and contractors working on the response for almost 3 months and we appreciate their ongoing commitment.”
Restrictions remain in place for the movement of birds, poultry products (including eggs and manure), equipment, and vehicles on or off properties in the new control area. Game bird hunting is also not permitted in the control area.
To prevent and eliminate biosecurity threats, every livestock producer should have an up-to-date farm biosecurity plan and be able to recognise signs of diseases that could impact their animals.
Poultry farmers and backyard flock and bird owners are urged to report any cases of unexplained bird deaths to the 24-hour Emergency Animal Disease Hotline on 1800 675 888, or to your local vet.
More information on the current H7 bird flu response, including movement permits and a map showing the new control area, is available at agriculture.vic.gov.au/avianinfluenza or by calling the VicEmergency Hotline on 1800 226 226.
