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Avian Influenza (Bird Flu) Surveillance
Avian influenza or ‘bird flu’ remains a threat to Australian birds and our poultry industry. While the risk of an exotic virus reaching our shores is low, all bird and poultry owners need to remain vigilant for signs of disease. Should you detect any unusual behaviour and/or symptoms in your birds and/or poultry, please report this IMMEDIATELY to your private veterinarian, local Animal Health Officer or the Emergency Animal Disease Hotline (1800 675 888).
The easiest way to protect your birds and/or poultry from diseases is to maintain good personal and on-farm hygiene, including minimising the contact your animals have with wild birds and rodents.
The risk from migratory birds infected with avian influenza virus causing a human pandemic in Australia is thought to be extremely remote. Surveillance continues to show that the avian influenza virus is not present in Australia. Waterfowl, which are the normal hosts of avian influenza and are thought to have had a role in the spread of the virus in Europe, Asia and Africa, do not migrate to Australia. A number of species of wading birds do, however they are not the normal hosts or spreaders of avian influenza. Australia’s strict quarantine measures prevent the disease coming into the country through imported birds or poultry products.
Avian Influenza Background Information
Disease Symptoms
Symptoms in birds affected with bird flu can include:
- swollen heads
- a drop in egg production
- respiratory distress
- diarrhoea
- reluctance to move, eat or drink
- droopy appearance
- inability to walk or stand
- unusual head or neck posture
- lethargy, and
- sudden death in several birds.
All bird species may be susceptible to avian influenza and it has been shown to occur in more than 100 species including chickens, turkeys, pheasants, partridges, quail, ducks, geese, guinea fowl, ostriches and many wild birds.
How to Minimise the Introduction of Disease to Your Poultry/Birds
Bird owners play a vital role in minimising the risk of disease outbreaks (including bird flu) through their husbandry and hygiene practises. Good practises include:
- keeping your equipment and poultry yard or aviary clean
- minimising the contact your birds have with wild birds
- preventing faecal or other animal waste contaminating feed and water
- preventing your bird(s) from directly mixing with others if you enter bird shows
- maintaining good personal hygiene
- limiting visitor contact with your birds
- keeping new birds separated for a period of time before introducing them to your existing flock/aviary
- knowing the signs of disease, and
- reporting immediately to your local veterinarian, Animal Health Officer or the Emergency Animal Disease Hotline (1800 675 888) if several of your birds become sick or die.
Human Health Risks
Avian influenza (bird flu) and human pandemic influenza (H1N1) are caused by different viruses. Further, birds infected with avian influenza (H5N1) do not easily cause disease in humans. Since the avian virus first emerged in 2003, there have only been around 260 human deaths from this virus worldwide – none in Australia. The key message to remember when handling birds (irrespective of whether they look sick or not) is good personal hygiene, including the thorough washing of hands with soap.
The risk from migratory birds infected with avian influenza virus causing a human pandemic in Australia is thought to be extremely remote. The biggest risk in the future is from international travelers, should the avian influenza virus mutate to a form more pathogenic to humans.
Surveillance continues to show that the avian influenza virus is not present in Australia. Waterfowl, which are the normal hosts of avian influenza and are thought to have had a role in the spread of the virus in Europe, Asia and Africa, do not migrate to Australia. A number of species of wading birds do, however they are not the normal hosts or spreaders of avian influenza. Australia’s strict quarantine measures prevent the disease coming into the country through imported birds or poultry products.
Australia is well prepared to deal with a case of avian influenza should it occur in poultry. There have been five minor incidents of avian influenza in Australia, the last being in 1997. Each was eradicated before the disease was able to significantly spread. In all outbreaks, the workers involved with diseased poultry did not become infected with avian influenza.
Ongoing Surveillance
Besides maintaining a national surveillance program for the early detection of avian influenza, national health and agriculture simulation exercises have also been held to better prepare Australia for an outbreak of avian influenza in both humans and/or birds.
Food Safety
Eggs, meat and poultry products in Australia remain safe.
External Information
The Office of the Chief Veterinary Officer of Australia (OCVO) has provided this comprehensive non-technical paper about the virus, its background and Australia's response, which is updated as new information becomes available.
- Page URL: http://www.pir.sa.gov.au/biosecuritysa/animalhealth/disease_surveillance/avian_influenza_surveillance
- Page Last Modified: November 8, 2011