Summarised by Centrist
Biosecurity Minister Andrew Hoggard says bird flu is “on its way” to New Zealand, with recent cases in Australia putting officials and poultry farmers on higher alert.
Hoggard told 1News the arrival of avian influenza had been expected since last year and was now “pretty much a ‘when’ scenario.”
He said the virus could arrive through seabirds coming from Antarctica or, if it spreads further in Australia, from across the Tasman.
The major concern is the poultry industry. Hoggard warned that if bird flu gets into a large producer, barn or free-range flock, the death rate could be “75% to 100%.”
That could affect the price of eggs and chicken meat.
New Zealand’s poultry sector says it has had time to prepare because the country is one of the last places on Earth yet to face the disease.
Farmers are tightening biosecurity, with one Carterton free-range egg producer introducing visitor QR codes and rebuilding sheds to reduce contact with wild birds.
Industry advice is to watch for symptoms including swelling, head or neck discolouration, lethargy, reduced appetite and reduced egg laying.
The Ministry for Primary Industries is asking people to report sightings of three or more dead birds.
