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Bird flu has been successfully eradicated from the Hawkesbury and all quarantine controls lifted as of Friday, NSW Agriculture Minister Tara Moriarty says.
She confirmed the H7N8 strain of avian influenza outbreak in the region as one of the most significant outbreaks in the state’s history.
“The … eradication of avian influenza in this zone is a terrific win for our poultry and egg producers, plus consumers, with businesses now able to get back to normal,” she says.
“From Friday (January 24), emergency zones will be removed and all emergency orders will be lifted, including movement restrictions for birds, objects and other equipment …”
This follows an easing of the Hawkesbury emergency zone in December 2024 after no new case in the area were detected after July 2024.
The H7N8 avian influenza strain detected in NSW was different from the H5N1 strain that is causing concern globally, Moriarty says.
“Australia remains free of the H5N1 strain of avian influenza. In addition, it was not connected to the Victorian outbreak of avian influenza.”
This has taken an immense response by the NSW Government working with industry, farmers and the community to control this outbreak and eventually eradicate the virus. I want to thank all the staff and industry personnel who worked tirelessly to protect the industry and minimise impacts
“The Minns Government is serious about biosecurity and protecting our valuable primary industries, and will continue to work with farmers to safeguard agricultural industries,” she says.
The NSW Government’s avian influenza response and eradication actions included culling infected birds with 288 Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) and inter-agency staff working on the response.
In June 2024, biosecurity teams detected to an avian influenza outbreak at two commercial poultry farms and four non–commercial premises in the Hawkesbury .
All infected premises were subject to quarantine, depopulation, disposal and decontamination to eliminate all premises of traces of the diseases before regular operations could resume.
