Arabic version: حث المزارعين على إبقاء الدجاج الحر في الداخل بسبب إنفلونزا الطيور

Poultry farmers in Australia are being advised to house their free-range hens indoors temporarily as a precaution against the spread of bird flu. The recommendation comes from Australia’s Consultative Committee on Emergency Animal Diseases following a suspected case of the H5N1 strain detected in a migratory bird in New South Wales. This strain has already been confirmed in five others in Western Australia and South Australia.

According to SBS News, acting chair Sam Hamilton emphasized that farmers should consider housing their hens only if it is practical and does not compromise animal welfare. The advice is non-mandatory and will require endorsement from state and territory authorities.

Dr. Hamilton noted that the current detections have only been in migratory seabirds and there is no evidence of mass mortality events among poultry or in agricultural production systems. Furthermore, the risk to human health remains low, as avian influenza viruses do not easily infect people.

Experts are stressing the importance of careful surveillance and testing to determine whether the detections in migratory seabirds are isolated incidents or indicative of a broader issue. The early detection of the virus is seen as crucial for limiting its spread and protecting poultry, wildlife, and public health.

Emma Grant from La Trobe University highlighted the potential for rapid virus spread and expressed concerns about its impact on wildlife. The public is urged to avoid contact with sick or dead wildlife and report any findings to an emergency hotline.

Despite the situation, health officials believe Australia is managing the threat effectively. Paul Griffin from Mater Health Services remarked that while the spread among migratory birds is largely expected, the current measures in place are helping to contain bird flu effectively.