Coles put limits on egg purchases per customer as bird flu spreads across Victorian farms. Source: Flickr.
Coles has introduced a temporary national limit on egg purchases after a deadly strain of bird flu hit farms across Victoria.
The limit allows customers to only buy two cartons per transaction on eggs. All stores have introduced the limit nationally, except for Western Australia.
“We are working closely with all of our suppliers to ensure eggs remain available for our customers,” a Coles spokesperson said.
“We are providing support to the industry in responding to the Avian Flu cases in Victoria.”
The high pathogenic H7N3 avian strain of bird flu and H7N9 strain has been detected on five different farms in the state’s southwest, with more than half a million chickens quarantined and euthanised to stop the spread of the disease.
Avian influenza is a viral and highly contagious disease that spreads among birds. The symptoms of the disease presents similar to a normal flu, but can result in severe symptoms and sudden death.
The Victorian government along with affected livestock industries are working together to manage this outbreak through a nationally agreed response plan.
Federal Agriculture Minister Murray Watt said he was confident in the authority’s ability to control the outbreak.
“It’s now at a point where we do have bird flu in five different poultry farms across Victoria but frankly it would have been a lot more if the Victorian government, supported by the Commonwealth, hadn’t moved as quickly as they had.”
Earlier this year, a human child returning to Victoria from overseas tested positive for a bird flu strain.
The Victorian Department of Health has assured that this case was not related to the farms outbreak and said the chances of avian influenza spreading to humans is low.
An alert by Agriculture Victoria said chicken meat and eggs do not pose a risk and are safe to consume.
“I’m making sure that our government particularly is across any implications that might have for human health,” Health Minister Butler said.
“At the moment, we feel very confident about that.”
The United States has restricted the imports of Victorian eggs and poultry products.
The Victorian government urges anyone who suspects disease or an outbreak on their farm or property, to call Emergency Animal Disease Hotline on 1800 675 888.
