Western Australian poultry farms locked down after H5N1 bird flu discovered in wild birds
Summary
Poultry farms in Western Australia have gone into lockdown after the H5N1 bird flu virus was found in wild birds on the mainland. Officials are working to prevent the virus from spreading to farmed birds, while monitoring the situation closely.Key Facts
- H5N1 bird flu was detected in a brown skua and a giant petrel near Esperance on the WA coast.
- The virus is highly contagious and has killed millions of birds and thousands of marine mammals worldwide since 2021.
- Australia was previously the only continent without H5N1 on its mainland.
- Inghams Group, the largest poultry producer in Australia, ordered a full lockdown of its WA operations and wants free-range chickens kept indoors.
- No cases of H5N1 have been found in farmed birds or wildlife populations yet.
- Authorities aim to learn from other countries' experiences to reduce the virus’s impact.
- The federal government has invested $113 million in preparedness and is coordinating efforts with states and scientists.
- Inghams shares fell sharply after news of the virus, continuing a recent downward trend linked to business challenges.
Read the Full Article
This is a fact-based summary from The Actual News. Click below to read the complete story directly from the original source.