Avian influenza

Avian influenza is a virus found in many wild and native birds.

This includes poultry such as chickens, ducks, geese and turkeys.

It can also infect mammals and has been detected in humans. However, transmission between humans has not yet been reported.

Strains are described as low pathogenicity (LPAI) or high pathogenicity (HPAI).

HPAI type H7N3 has been detected in poultry interstate. There have been no detections in the Northern Territory (NT).

The HPAI strain of concern for the NT is H5N1.

Early detection is important in managing the spread of this virus.

Symptoms

Avoid all contact with a bird if you notice any of the following symptoms:

  • incoordination, tremors, swimming in circles
  • inability to stand or fly
  • twisted necks or other abnormal posture
  • difficulty breathing, coughing or sneezing
  • swelling around the head, neck and eyes
  • dullness and reluctance to move, eat or drink
  • drop in egg production
  • cloudiness or change in colour of the eyes
  • watery diarrhoea
  • sudden death.

Responsibilities

Everyone has a role to play. You must:

  • report any sick or dead birds including domestic poultry by calling the emergency animal disease hotline on 1800 675 888
    • record what you see, where the animal was found, and take photos or videos
  • avoid contact with sick or dead birds and do not allow your pets to touch or eat them.

You also have other responsibilities below if you're a bird owner, hunter, bird enthusiast, bushwalker or researcher.

To protect your poultry or other birds, you should:

  • get a property identification code (PIC), it is essential for:
    • protecting your animals and community from potential outbreaks, whether you have livestock for farming or just pets
    • assisting to find out where livestock have come from or are kept
    • helping to quickly notify about possible threats
    • assisting with compensation claims if an outbreak happens in your area.
  • keep your equipment and yard or aviary clean by:
    • removing litter, sand and grit between batches of poultry or every few months for other birds
    • thoroughly cleaning floors, walls and wire with soapy water, and disinfecting as needed
    • cleaning and disinfecting feed and water containers regularly
    • not sharing equipment with other bird owners unless it has been thoroughly cleaned and disinfected
  • restrict contact between your birds and wild birds by:
    • restricting access to ponds, lakes and creeks
    • using a protective netting to prevent wild birds from entering your birds' areas
    • leaning up surrounding areas to reduce shelter and hiding places for wild birds
  • not let feed and water become contaminated by faeces or other animal waste by:
    • ensuring water is from a chlorinated mains water supply, a clean bore, or treated properly if these sources aren't available
    • not allowing wild birds or pest animals to contaminate your birds' feed - store it in a container with a secure lid
  • practice good hygiene when handling your birds by:
    • always washing your hands with soap before and after handling them
    • cleaning your footwear and washing your clothing regularly
    • not using the same clothing and footwear around your birds if you have visited other flocks or events such as shows
    • not taking your birds to a show if there are signs of illness in your flock
    • cleaning and disinfecting all bird equipment and carrying containers before and after a show
    • avoiding handling other people's birds other than your own, if possible
    • quarantining your birds who go to a show before returning them to your flock
    • keeping a register of all bird movements in and out of your premises.

The Territory’s magpie geese and Australia’s native birds are at risk.

When you are out hunting, always practise good biosecurity by:

  • cleaning and disinfecting all equipment on site
  • reporting any unusual signs in animals by calling the emergency animal disease hotline on 1800 675 888
  • following all quarantines and restrictions that are in place
  • not moving live birds or animals to new locations
  • not touching deceased birds.

Read advice for bird banders, wildlife rangers and researchers on the Wildlife Health Australia website.

Prevention

Australia has well-established emergency response plans in place for avian influenza. This includes:

  • monitoring overseas outbreaks to stay informed of best mitigation and management practices and outcomes
  • raising awareness to protect livestock industries, native wildlife and community.

For more information, read the Australian Government Biosecurity and Agricultural Response Plan on the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry website.

More information

Read more about avian influenza on the Australian Government's Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry website.

For more information about avian influenza in humans, go to the NT Health website.

Contact

For more information, contact livestock biosecurity. To get the latest biosecurity updates:

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