Latest News

• Add My News • Search Old News

Gippsland › Latest news › Department of Primary Industries

Frequently Asked Questions – Avian Influenza (Bird Flu)

What is Avian Influenza or bird flu? Avian Influenza is a serious disease of domestic poultry that can result in significant mortality among chickens on poultry farms.

By Department of Primary Industries - 11th February 2004 - Back to News

It has been known for some time that a wide range of influenza viruses circulate in wild birds. In the past months, this virus has been attributed to an increased number of poultry deaths across South-East Asia. Many countries across Asia are culling chickens to prevent the spread of this disease.

Australia has no reported cases of bird flu, the last case in Australia being over five years ago.

The transmission of this virus from bird to humans is a rare event, but can occasionally occur with some strains of the avian influenza virus.

How is virus spread?

Wild birds are considered the natural host for avian influenza or bird flu. Certain water birds act as reservoirs of influenza viruses by carrying the virus in their intestines and shedding it. Infected birds shed virus in saliva, nasal secretions and faeces. Avian influenza viruses spread among susceptible birds when they have contact with contaminated nasal, respiratory, and faecal material from infected birds; however, faecal-to-oral transmission is the most common.

What are the characteristics of Avian Influenza in Birds?

Avian influenza does not usually make wild birds sick, but can make domesticated birds very sick and may cause death. Infected birds will experience high temperatures and respiratory problems and death may occur within hours or a couple of days.

As a bird owner, what can I do?

Owners of poultry should be vigilant for signs of disease especially where multiple mortalities occur in poultry, or many birds are sick. Care should be taken to maintain poultry in isolation from wild birds. Report unusual findings to your local DPI animal health officer or private veterinarian.

How is the virus spread to humans?

The transmission of this virus from bird to humans is a rare event. For humans to be infected they must come in contact with infected birds or their droppings. Avian influenza does not usually circulate among humans, and there have been very few cases of human death as a result of this virus.

What are the human symptoms of Avian Influenza?

The reported symptoms of avian influenza in humans have ranged from typical influenza-like symptoms (e.g. cough, fever, sore throat and muscle aches) to eye infections, pneumonia, and acute respiratory distress. The most common sign is conjunctivitis, but occasionally the disease can be fatal.

For further information please refer to the following websites:

For a situation update on avian influenza or bird flu visit Australian Government Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF) www.daff.gov.au/birdflu

The World Health Organisation website contains regular updates and further information www.who.int

ELLINBANK’S NEW DAIRY OPEN DAY A SUCCESS

Visitors from as far away as Ireland, New Zealand and Western Australia, as well as a crowd of over 200 farmers, dairy industry representatives, researchers and Gippsland locals, inspected DPI Ellinbank’s new commercial and research dairy last week.

A demonstration milking was run with farmers taking the opportunity to quiz DPI Ellinbank scientists about the latest in dairy research. Dairy specialists from across Gippsland were also on hand to talk about the new equipment and technologies that have been installed across the dairy and adjacent drafting yards.

United Dairyfarmers Victoria President, Peter Owen, opened the event and told the crowd that DPI Ellinbank played an important role in supporting the dairy industry and that the industry was Victoria’s single biggest export earner. He said Victorian dairy farmers produce around $2 billion worth of milk, and provide 70% of Australia’s total milk supply and 75% of its milk exports.

"This success can be attributed to a mix of hard working Victorian dairy farmers, and innovative and practical management practices all underpinned by strong scientific research. This makes "Ellinbank" an important reason for Government and industry to invest into science," said Mr Owen.

The big new dairy has been designed to be as flexible and efficient as possible, and capable of handling a myriad of commercial and research demands that will be placed upon it in the future. As part of the new dairy’s design plan, three key operational needs were addressed:

• Productivity – to increase DPI’s research division - Primary Industries Research Victoria - capacity to conduct industry based research;
• Environmental management – both on-site and for the benefit of the wider catchment areas; and
• Comfort and safety for both dairy operators and cows.

It was also designed to accommodate multiple technologies – both conventional and new – to allow objective testing of those technologies, eg to assess performance, risks, benefits or savings for farmers.

At the end of the day, a survey was run and farmers were asked what information or value they got out of the event. A clear majority positively responded along a similar theme by saying that they, "… got heaps out of the day, enjoyed seeing the various new technologies and the dairy operating."

Source: http://gippsland.com/

Published by: news@gippsland.com

• Labor under fire as Treasurer dodges questions on cuts to vital frontline emergency services jobs
  Labor faces backlash over emergency services job cuts, with Treasurer Jaclyn Symes denying losses despite reports of hundreds axed. Nationals accuse Labor of financial mismanagement, risking regional safety and environmental protection.