No Chicken Meat Farms Affected by Avian Influenza
AUSTRALIA - The Australian Chicken Meat Federation said last week that the finding of avian influenza in an egg production flock near Young has no implications for chicken meat safety or consumption.Executive Director Dr Andreas Dubs emphasised that while the particular disease strain poses a risk to other chickens, it is not a public health risk to humans. Furthermore, no chicken meat farms have been infected.
The NSW Food Authority has confirmed that there are no food safety issues and that poultry and eggs remain safe to eat.
“The results confirm that this virus is the H7 Avian Influenza strain, NOT the highly pathogenic H5N1 strain that has gained worldwide attention,” NSW Chief Veterinary Officer Ian Roth said in the NSW DPI Media Release issued on 15 October 2013.
“I am confident the outbreak will be controlled quickly,” Dr Dubs said.
Dr Dubs said that to that end, under the supervision of the NSW Department of Primary Industries and with the involvement of the Australian Egg Corporation Limited and the egg farmer concerned, chickens on the infected egg farm will be slaughtered and disposed of safely and humanely, while the farm was immediately placed under quarantine.
“We are confident that the disease will be eliminated quickly, as both industry and government are well prepared for this. Experience is on our side, with several outbreaks of avian influenza in the past having been eradicated quickly, so everyone involved knows what needs to be done,” Dr Dubs said.
Further Reading
You can visit the Avian Flu page by clicking here.