• Experts have detected the H7N3 strain, which is distinct from the H5N1 strain.
• Three farms near Meredith have reported H7N3 cases, while another near Terang has H7N9 cases.
• Authorities will euthanize and dispose of all poultry at the affected farms, impacting hundreds of thousands of birds.

The government of Australia’s Victoria state announced on Wednesday that a highly pathogenic strain of avian influenza had been discovered on a fourth poultry farm near Melbourne, adjacent to two other properties where the virus had already been detected.

“The government confirmed in a statement that the avian influenza virus has been detected at a fourth Victorian poultry farm.”

The farm has reported the detection of the H7N3 strain of the virus, which differs from the H5N1 strain that has spread globally across bird and mammal populations, even affecting humans. Three farms near the town of Meredith have now reported cases of H7N3, while another farm near Terang, located an hour and a half’s drive east, has been infected with the H7N9 strain.

The state government announced that it would euthanize and dispose of all poultry at the farms, totaling hundreds of thousands of birds, which constitutes a small fraction of Australia’s total. Authorities have quarantined affected farms and implemented restrictions on movement in surrounding areas. Local bird owners must confine their birds to minimize contact with wild birds that could potentially spread the virus.

Before the latest bird flu cases, Australia experienced nine outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza since 1976, all of which authorities contained and eradicated, according to the government. Officials affirm to the public that consuming eggs and poultry meat carries no associated risk.

[embedpost slug=”australian-army-opens-recruitment-to-foreign-nationals/”]