Australia: LP H7N6 at Emu Farm in Victoria

[Pathfinder]

Low pathogenic avian influenza (poultry), Australia

Information received on 26/08/2020 from Dr Mark Schipp, Chief Veterinary Officer, Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment, Australian Government, Canberra, Australia

Summary Report type Immediate notification Date of start of the event 18/08/2020 Date of confirmation of the event 26/08/2020 Report date 26/08/2020 Date submitted to OIE 26/08/2020 Reason for notification Recurrence of a listed disease Date of previous occurrence 27/06/2013 Manifestation of disease Sub-clinical infection Causal agent Low pathogenic avian influenza virus Serotype H7N6 Nature of diagnosis Laboratory (basic), Laboratory (advanced) This event pertains to a defined zone within the country

New outbreaks (1)

Outbreak 1 Kerang, Victoria Date of start of the outbreak 18/08/2020 Outbreak status Continuing (or date resolved not provided) Epidemiological unit Farm Affected animals Species Susceptible Cases Deaths Killed and disposed of Slaughtered Birds 8753 2000 100 0 0 Affected population commercial emu farm

Summary of outbreaks Total outbreaks: 1 Total animals affected Species Susceptible Cases Deaths Killed and disposed of Slaughtered Birds 8753 2000 100 0 0 Outbreak statistics Species Apparent morbidity rate Apparent mortality rate Apparent case fatality rate Proportion susceptible animals lost* Birds 22.85% 1.14% 5.00% 1.14% *Removed from the susceptible population through death, destruction and/or slaughter

Epidemiology Source of the outbreak(s) or origin of infection Unknown or inconclusive Contact with wild species Epidemiological comments Clinical signs in chicks only.

Control measures Measures applied Movement control inside the country Surveillance outside containment and/or protection zone Surveillance within containment and/or protection zone Traceability Vaccination prohibited No treatment of affected animals Measures to be applied Stamping out Disinfection

Diagnostic test results Laboratory name and type Species Test Test date Result Australian Centre for Disease Preparedness (OIE Reference Laboratory) Birds gene sequencing 25/08/2020 Positive Australian Centre for Disease Preparedness (OIE Reference Laboratory) Birds polymerase chain reaction (PCR) 25/08/2020 Positive

Future Reporting The event is continuing. Weekly follow-up reports will be submitted.

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https://www.oie.int/wahis_2/public/w...reportid=35543

[Shiloh]

Source: https://www.thechronicle.com.au/news...reads/4087469/

Hundreds of emus dead as bird flu spreads
27th Aug 2020 6:32 PM

Thousands of emus and chickens will be killed after an outbreak of bird flu in regional Victoria.

Veterinarians from Agriculture Victoria are on the farm in Kerang, three hours north of Melbourne, to euthanise the emu chicks.

The dramatic move came after 200 birds came down with avian influenza earlier this week, spreading to the emu farm in Kerang and an egg farm in the Golden Plains Shire.

The detection of bird flu at the two new farms takes the total number of affected farms to six, since the first farm detection on July 31.

"The H7N7, H7N6 and H5N2 types of the virus are not a risk to the public as it rarely affects humans, unless there is direct and close contact with sick birds. Properly cooked poultry products including chicken and eggs are safe to eat," Agriculture Victoria advised...