Latest news with #MaryVanAndel
1News
28-04-2025
- Health
- 1News
Controls lifted at Otago poultry farm after bird flu virus eradicated
Strict movement controls have been lifted from an Otago poultry farm following the eradication of a pathogenic strain of avian influenza in chickens at the premises. The highly pathogenic bird flu strain H7N6 was detected in poultry at Mainland Poultry's Hillgrove Farm in early December, prompting restrictions to be put in place and the culling of tens of thousands of chickens in the weeks following. Minsitry for Primary Industries (MPI) moved swiftly to implement strict movement controls on the property to prevent goods or anything else that might be carrying the virus leaving the property. Chickens on the farm were humanely euthanised and disposed of in a secure landfill, along with eggs, litter and manure from the farm. This was followed by an extensive cleaning and disinfection process. It comes as the Ministry for Primary Industries announced another unrelated farm is now under precautionary testing. (Source: 1News) In an update today, Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) chief veterinary officer Mary Van Andel said more than 5600 tests have been carried out on samples from poultry and wild birds, including from 36 flocks across 5 farms linked to Mainland's Hillgrove property. "HPAI was not found anywhere other than Hillgrove, giving confidence that the disease had been contained and stamped out," she said. "The processes we have followed – depopulation and disposal, decontamination of the site and extensive surveillance – give us confidence that the virus has been eradicated." "While there is still work to be done, the lifting of movement controls is a significant milestone in the response and means that Mainland Poultry can begin the process of returning to business." Van Andel thanked Mainland Poultry for notifying MPI promptly when the disease was suspected and working to stamp it out successfully. "Good progress is being made to restore trade, with around $300 million of trade in poultry products recovered to date.' Biosecurity Minister Andrew Hoggard praised the collaboration among industries and "rapid action" taken to contain and stamp out the disease. "Rapid action on behalf of the farmer and MPI to stand up a response and restrict movements paid off. Tracing did not detect any HPAI-infected chickens beyond the farm where the disease originated. He said this has been "important work" as New Zealand's robust biosecurity system and the relative freedom from pests and disease plays a role in farmers' competitive advantage. "This was the first detection of HPAI in New Zealand and it tested some of the plans that are being developed for the arrival of HPAI H5N1. "It certainly provides a timely reminder that all New Zealanders have a role to play in being prepared and that is through strong biosecurity as an essential first line of defence."
Scoop
28-04-2025
- Health
- Scoop
Controls Lifted At Poultry Farm After Virus Eradicated
Press Release – Biosecurity New Zealand While there is still work to be done, the lifting of movement controls is a significant milestone in the response and means that Mainland Poultry can begin the process of returning to business, says Dr van Andel. Movement controls have been lifted from Mainland Poultry's Hillgrove Farm in Otago, after the successful eradication of H7N6 strain of high pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) says Ministry for Primary Industries chief veterinary officer Dr Mary Van Andel. When HPAI H7N6 was detected in poultry at the property in early December, the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) moved swiftly to stamp out the virus. 'While there is still work to be done, the lifting of movement controls is a significant milestone in the response and means that Mainland Poultry can begin the process of returning to business,' says Dr van Andel. 'We're grateful to Mainland Poultry, which did the right thing in notifying us as soon as an exotic disease was suspected and for working with us in partnership to successfully stamp out this disease.' MPI immediately put strict movement controls on the property to prevent goods or anything else that might be carrying the virus leaving the property. Dr van Andel says more than 5,600 tests were carried out on samples from poultry and wild birds, including from 36 flocks across 5 farms linked to Mainland's Hillgrove property. HPAI was not found anywhere other than Hillgrove, giving confidence that the disease had been contained and stamped out. Chickens on the farm were humanely euthanised and disposed of in a secure landfill, along with eggs, litter and manure from the farm. This was followed by an extensive cleaning and disinfection process. 'The processes we have followed – depopulation and disposal, decontamination of the site and extensive surveillance – give us confidence that the virus has been eradicated. MPI staff will continue to support Mainland as the farm is repopulated. 'Good progress is being made to restore trade, with around $300 million of trade in poultry products recovered to date.' MPI has worked with overseas government counterparts and industry partners in New Zealand to meet market requirements and has also proposed alternative assurances to some markets. MPI continues to work towards the reopening of trade for others. Dr van Andel says testing indicates that the infection at Hillgrove is likely to have occurred after free-range laying hens foraging outside were exposed to wild birds with a low pathogenicity (LPAI) virus strain, which then mutated in the hens to become HPAI. 'This is the first time such an event in New Zealand has been documented and our first case of HPAI. We've learned a lot from this response that will help us to prepare for HPAI H5N1 if it spreads here.'
Scoop
28-04-2025
- Health
- Scoop
Controls Lifted At Poultry Farm After Virus Eradicated
Movement controls have been lifted from Mainland Poultry's Hillgrove Farm in Otago, after the successful eradication of H7N6 strain of high pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) says Ministry for Primary Industries chief veterinary officer Dr Mary Van Andel. When HPAI H7N6 was detected in poultry at the property in early December, the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) moved swiftly to stamp out the virus. 'While there is still work to be done, the lifting of movement controls is a significant milestone in the response and means that Mainland Poultry can begin the process of returning to business,' says Dr van Andel. 'We're grateful to Mainland Poultry, which did the right thing in notifying us as soon as an exotic disease was suspected and for working with us in partnership to successfully stamp out this disease.' MPI immediately put strict movement controls on the property to prevent goods or anything else that might be carrying the virus leaving the property. Dr van Andel says more than 5,600 tests were carried out on samples from poultry and wild birds, including from 36 flocks across 5 farms linked to Mainland's Hillgrove property. HPAI was not found anywhere other than Hillgrove, giving confidence that the disease had been contained and stamped out. Chickens on the farm were humanely euthanised and disposed of in a secure landfill, along with eggs, litter and manure from the farm. This was followed by an extensive cleaning and disinfection process. 'The processes we have followed – depopulation and disposal, decontamination of the site and extensive surveillance – give us confidence that the virus has been eradicated. MPI staff will continue to support Mainland as the farm is repopulated. 'Good progress is being made to restore trade, with around $300 million of trade in poultry products recovered to date.' MPI has worked with overseas government counterparts and industry partners in New Zealand to meet market requirements and has also proposed alternative assurances to some markets. MPI continues to work towards the reopening of trade for others. Dr van Andel says testing indicates that the infection at Hillgrove is likely to have occurred after free-range laying hens foraging outside were exposed to wild birds with a low pathogenicity (LPAI) virus strain, which then mutated in the hens to become HPAI. 'This is the first time such an event in New Zealand has been documented and our first case of HPAI. We've learned a lot from this response that will help us to prepare for HPAI H5N1 if it spreads here.'
Otago Daily Times
28-04-2025
- Health
- Otago Daily Times
Final controls lifted at poultry farm hit by avian flu
The Ministry for Primary Industries has lifted all movement controls from an Otago poultry farm after an outbreak of avian influenza last year. The H7N6 strain of high pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) was discovered at Mainland Poultry's Hillgrove Farm, near Moeraki in early December and resulted in a shutdown of the farm and culling of about 160,000 birds. "While there is still work to be done, the lifting of movement controls is a significant milestone in the response and means that Mainland Poultry can begin the process of returning to business," MPI chief veterinary officer Dr Mary Van Andel said. "We're grateful to Mainland Poultry, which did the right thing in notifying us as soon as an exotic disease was suspected and for working with us in partnership to successfully stamp out this disease." MPI immediately put strict movement controls on the property to prevent goods or anything else that might be carrying the virus leaving the property. Dr van Andel said more than 5600 tests were carried out on samples from poultry and wild birds, including from 36 flocks across 5 farms linked to Mainland's Hillgrove property. HPAI was not found anywhere other than Hillgrove, giving confidence the disease had been contained and stamped out. Dr Van Andel said chickens on the farm were humanely euthanised and disposed of in a secure landfill, along with eggs, litter and manure. This was followed by an extensive cleaning and disinfection process. "The processes we have followed – depopulation and disposal, decontamination of the site and extensive surveillance – give us confidence that the virus has been eradicated. MPI staff will continue to support Mainland as the farm is repopulated. "Good progress is being made to restore trade, with around $300 million of trade in poultry products recovered to date." MPI said it had worked with overseas government counterparts and industry partners in New Zealand to meet market requirements and had also proposed alternative assurances to some markets. Testing indicated that the infection at Hillgrove was likely to have occurred after free-range laying hens foraging outside were exposed to wild birds with a low pathogenicity (LPAI) virus strain, which then mutated in the hens to become HPAI, Dr Van Andel said. "This is the first time such an event in New Zealand has been documented and our first case of HPAI. We've learned a lot from this response that will help us to prepare for HPAI H5N1 if it spreads here."
