Low Pathogenic Avian Influenza (LPAI) in Ducks
Date: 03 March 2012 Time: 17:00 hrs
Issued by the Victorian Department of Primary Industries for the poultry industry.
Situation Analysis
- LPAI (an H5N3 virus subtype) was confirmed on a duck property in outer Melbourne on 26 January 2012.
- The operations on this property are closely integrated with those on another property owned by the same company; both properties were declared infected premises, placed under quarantine and depopulated.
- The first property has been cleaned and decontaminated and this process is nearing completion on the second property.
- Extensive surveillance has been undertaken on all traces and all properties within the control zone surrounding both properties. No further cases have been identified.
- There is strong epidemiological and molecular evidence that this incident was a recent introduction to domestic ducks from a wild bird source and that incident has now been contained.
- The Restricted Area remains in place; the Control Area was revoked on 1 March 2012.
Background
- Low pathogenic strains of avian influenza are detected from time to time in Australia. This is the first time that a H5 subtype virus has been detected in domestic ducks in Victoria. Ducks rarely become ill as a result of these infections and are regarded as the natural hosts of influenza viruses.
- The virus was confirmed as a low pathogenic H5N3 subtype by the Australian Animal Health Laboratory (AAHL).
Actions taken in Victoria
- A response centre was set up at Attwood.
- Depopulation of the infected properties (IPs) has been completed.
- Tracing and targeted surveillance activities have been completed by DPI.
- Movement restrictions on poultry have been imposed on areas surrounding the infected premises. The Restricted Area (RA) has been defined as 1 km around the Infected Premises. The Control Area (CA) extends a further 2km around the IPs (CA = a 3km radius around the IPs).
- A sentinel testing program will be carried out 21 days after completion of decontamination.
- This will be a nationally cost-shared response (via invocation of the Emergency Animal Disease Response Agreement).
- A communications effort was launched by DPI to ensure that producers and the public are adequately informed.
- An information package was developed and delivered to all addresses falling within the RA.
- Suspected cases of avian influenza infection should be reported to the DPI by phoning 1800 675 888.
Further situation reports will be released it there is a significant change.
