The new case of avian influenza (H7N3) was confirmed at a property — which was already in quarantine — in the Golden Plains Shire, 200km south-west of Melbourne, Agriculture Victoria said on Thursday, June 30.
All ducks at the property will be culled under veterinary supervision, with the site cleaned and cleared of the infection.
The duck farm, which is in the current restricted area, produces commercial eggs and meat.
Victoria’s chief veterinary officer Graeme Cooke said the detection was not wholly unexpected due to the farm’s proximity to other impacted sites.
“We have established restricted and control areas in proximity to existing IPs which has assisted us in limiting the spread and quickly detecting the sixth IP through comprehensive surveillance activities,” Dr Cooke said.
“It’s a difficult time for our farmers and we’re making sure mental health support is available and eligible producers can access compensation.”
Five other Victorian poultry farms have been infected, with 500,000 birds euthanised at Meredith and Terang farms operated by Avgo and Surf Coast Eggs Farms.
Coles imposes egg limits
Shoppers have been urged not to panic-buy eggs after a mounting bird flu outbreak prompted a supermarket giant to introduced limits on egg purchases.
Coles customers in every state and territory, except Western Australia, can now only buy a maximum of two egg cartons.
Coles says the limit is temporary but has not revealed how long it is expected to last.
“We are working closely with all of our suppliers to ensure eggs remain available for our customers and we are providing support to the industry in responding to the avian flu cases in Victoria," a Coles spokesperson said.
Woolworths and Aldi do not have limits on egg purchases and no other national stores have publicised limits.
Federal Agriculture Minister Murray Watt assured people it was still safe to eat eggs.
"There's no risk of contaminated eggs getting into the supply system," he said.
"It's also important to remember that the strain of avian flu that we see in Victoria is not the particularly deadly strain that we have seen in other countries around the world — that's the way we intend to keep it."
Victorian MP Natalie Hutchins discouraged customers from panic-buying cartons, as some did with toilet paper during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.
"They don't need to stock up. We are the third biggest supplier around the nation as a state and we'll continue to work with our farmers to make sure that pipeline of product is protected as much as possible," Ms Hutchins said.
VFF vice-president and egg farmer Danyel Cucinotta said the industry was ramping up containment efforts to ensure eggs remained available and advised customers to shop around at local retailers.
“Victorian egg farmers are working hard to contain the risk of any further biosecurity outbreak and maintain a supply of fresh and affordable eggs," Ms Cucinotta said.
8°C