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The Advertiser
09-07-2025
- Health
- The Advertiser
Australia declared free from bird flu, but a more deadly strain lurks
In a major win for the nation's biosecurity efforts, Australia has been officially declared free from high pathogenicity avian influenza in poultry. The World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) has published Australia's self-declared HPAI-free status following agreement by the National Management Group that the February 2025 H7N8 outbreak in Victoria has been eradicated. The publication is designed to provide global transparency of a nation's animal health status. There have been no new cases of bird flu detected in poultry since 24 February 2025; the government submitted the self-declaration to the WOAH last month. Meanwhile, the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry has been working closely with trading partners to triage a crippling crisis for the poultry industry that began after H7, a separate strain of the virus, tore through chicken flocks in Victoria, NSW and the ACT in July 2024. More than 1.8 million birds were culled nationwide during that outbreak, decimating the national layer hen flock and causing an Australia-wide retail shortage of eggs, in an effort to contain the spread of the virus while strict quarantine zones and trade restrictions were put in place. The government has also confirmed that Australia remains free of the H5N1 strain, a subtype of avian influenza that remains on its doorstep and has created havoc across entire continents. The highly contagious strain has infected more than 500 wild bird species and 90 mammalian species overseas and, while these were mainly marine mammals and bird-eating scavengers, "spillover" cases have been detected in dairy cattle, cats, goats, alpacas, and pigs. A sheep was also infected after being exposed to a highly contaminated environment in the UK. Asia has been significantly impacted by the H5N1 strain with cases being reported in several countries, including multiple human fatalities linked to the virus in Cambodia notwithstanding that human infections are rare. The government invested more than $100 million last year to enhance national preparedness and response capabilities as stakeholders prepare for a possible future outbreak of H5N1 bird flu in Australia, including the potential impacts to animals, people and ecosystems. Stakeholders said a significant outbreak of the highly pathogenic bird flu, which jumped species to infect humans and more than 80 dairy farms across 11 states in the US, could lead to the "worst environmental disaster in Australia's history". While the eradication of the latest outbreak marks a significant turning point, Agriculture Minister Julie Collins cautioned against complacency and said the joint effort underlines Australia's successful response and management capabilities and ongoing work to combat invasive emergency pests and diseases. "Australia must remain vigilant, as a highly contagious and serious strain of H5 HPAI is spreading globally through movement of migratory wild birds - this strain is not present in Australia," she said. "The rapid spread abroad has killed not only birds but also mammals, and means we cannot afford to be complacent. "The agriculture, environment and health sectors are working in partnership to manage national biosecurity threats that impact Australians." The H7N8 outbreak in February was reported days after the government declared Australia bird flu-free following the 2024 outbreak. A national review of avian influenza preparedness is also currently underway, with recommendations expected by the end of the year. Proposals being considered are permanent upgrades to farm-level biosecurity and improved diagnostic capacity for regional areas. Avian influenza virus strains are either low or high pathogenicity, depending on the impact the disease has on poultry. In Australia, low pathogenicity avian influenza viruses are naturally carried by wild birds, particularly ducks, often without signs of disease, and spread by contaminating the food or water supplies of domestic poultry and this can mutate into high pathogenicity strains on rare occasions. Scientists believe the 2025 outbreak was linked to one of these 'spillover' events. Australia's default policy for bird flu outbreaks is to contain and eradicate the disease in the shortest possible time, without vaccination. In a major win for the nation's biosecurity efforts, Australia has been officially declared free from high pathogenicity avian influenza in poultry. The World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) has published Australia's self-declared HPAI-free status following agreement by the National Management Group that the February 2025 H7N8 outbreak in Victoria has been eradicated. The publication is designed to provide global transparency of a nation's animal health status. There have been no new cases of bird flu detected in poultry since 24 February 2025; the government submitted the self-declaration to the WOAH last month. Meanwhile, the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry has been working closely with trading partners to triage a crippling crisis for the poultry industry that began after H7, a separate strain of the virus, tore through chicken flocks in Victoria, NSW and the ACT in July 2024. More than 1.8 million birds were culled nationwide during that outbreak, decimating the national layer hen flock and causing an Australia-wide retail shortage of eggs, in an effort to contain the spread of the virus while strict quarantine zones and trade restrictions were put in place. The government has also confirmed that Australia remains free of the H5N1 strain, a subtype of avian influenza that remains on its doorstep and has created havoc across entire continents. The highly contagious strain has infected more than 500 wild bird species and 90 mammalian species overseas and, while these were mainly marine mammals and bird-eating scavengers, "spillover" cases have been detected in dairy cattle, cats, goats, alpacas, and pigs. A sheep was also infected after being exposed to a highly contaminated environment in the UK. Asia has been significantly impacted by the H5N1 strain with cases being reported in several countries, including multiple human fatalities linked to the virus in Cambodia notwithstanding that human infections are rare. The government invested more than $100 million last year to enhance national preparedness and response capabilities as stakeholders prepare for a possible future outbreak of H5N1 bird flu in Australia, including the potential impacts to animals, people and ecosystems. Stakeholders said a significant outbreak of the highly pathogenic bird flu, which jumped species to infect humans and more than 80 dairy farms across 11 states in the US, could lead to the "worst environmental disaster in Australia's history". While the eradication of the latest outbreak marks a significant turning point, Agriculture Minister Julie Collins cautioned against complacency and said the joint effort underlines Australia's successful response and management capabilities and ongoing work to combat invasive emergency pests and diseases. "Australia must remain vigilant, as a highly contagious and serious strain of H5 HPAI is spreading globally through movement of migratory wild birds - this strain is not present in Australia," she said. "The rapid spread abroad has killed not only birds but also mammals, and means we cannot afford to be complacent. "The agriculture, environment and health sectors are working in partnership to manage national biosecurity threats that impact Australians." The H7N8 outbreak in February was reported days after the government declared Australia bird flu-free following the 2024 outbreak. A national review of avian influenza preparedness is also currently underway, with recommendations expected by the end of the year. Proposals being considered are permanent upgrades to farm-level biosecurity and improved diagnostic capacity for regional areas. Avian influenza virus strains are either low or high pathogenicity, depending on the impact the disease has on poultry. In Australia, low pathogenicity avian influenza viruses are naturally carried by wild birds, particularly ducks, often without signs of disease, and spread by contaminating the food or water supplies of domestic poultry and this can mutate into high pathogenicity strains on rare occasions. Scientists believe the 2025 outbreak was linked to one of these 'spillover' events. Australia's default policy for bird flu outbreaks is to contain and eradicate the disease in the shortest possible time, without vaccination. In a major win for the nation's biosecurity efforts, Australia has been officially declared free from high pathogenicity avian influenza in poultry. The World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) has published Australia's self-declared HPAI-free status following agreement by the National Management Group that the February 2025 H7N8 outbreak in Victoria has been eradicated. The publication is designed to provide global transparency of a nation's animal health status. There have been no new cases of bird flu detected in poultry since 24 February 2025; the government submitted the self-declaration to the WOAH last month. Meanwhile, the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry has been working closely with trading partners to triage a crippling crisis for the poultry industry that began after H7, a separate strain of the virus, tore through chicken flocks in Victoria, NSW and the ACT in July 2024. More than 1.8 million birds were culled nationwide during that outbreak, decimating the national layer hen flock and causing an Australia-wide retail shortage of eggs, in an effort to contain the spread of the virus while strict quarantine zones and trade restrictions were put in place. The government has also confirmed that Australia remains free of the H5N1 strain, a subtype of avian influenza that remains on its doorstep and has created havoc across entire continents. The highly contagious strain has infected more than 500 wild bird species and 90 mammalian species overseas and, while these were mainly marine mammals and bird-eating scavengers, "spillover" cases have been detected in dairy cattle, cats, goats, alpacas, and pigs. A sheep was also infected after being exposed to a highly contaminated environment in the UK. Asia has been significantly impacted by the H5N1 strain with cases being reported in several countries, including multiple human fatalities linked to the virus in Cambodia notwithstanding that human infections are rare. The government invested more than $100 million last year to enhance national preparedness and response capabilities as stakeholders prepare for a possible future outbreak of H5N1 bird flu in Australia, including the potential impacts to animals, people and ecosystems. Stakeholders said a significant outbreak of the highly pathogenic bird flu, which jumped species to infect humans and more than 80 dairy farms across 11 states in the US, could lead to the "worst environmental disaster in Australia's history". While the eradication of the latest outbreak marks a significant turning point, Agriculture Minister Julie Collins cautioned against complacency and said the joint effort underlines Australia's successful response and management capabilities and ongoing work to combat invasive emergency pests and diseases. "Australia must remain vigilant, as a highly contagious and serious strain of H5 HPAI is spreading globally through movement of migratory wild birds - this strain is not present in Australia," she said. "The rapid spread abroad has killed not only birds but also mammals, and means we cannot afford to be complacent. "The agriculture, environment and health sectors are working in partnership to manage national biosecurity threats that impact Australians." The H7N8 outbreak in February was reported days after the government declared Australia bird flu-free following the 2024 outbreak. A national review of avian influenza preparedness is also currently underway, with recommendations expected by the end of the year. Proposals being considered are permanent upgrades to farm-level biosecurity and improved diagnostic capacity for regional areas. Avian influenza virus strains are either low or high pathogenicity, depending on the impact the disease has on poultry. In Australia, low pathogenicity avian influenza viruses are naturally carried by wild birds, particularly ducks, often without signs of disease, and spread by contaminating the food or water supplies of domestic poultry and this can mutate into high pathogenicity strains on rare occasions. Scientists believe the 2025 outbreak was linked to one of these 'spillover' events. Australia's default policy for bird flu outbreaks is to contain and eradicate the disease in the shortest possible time, without vaccination. In a major win for the nation's biosecurity efforts, Australia has been officially declared free from high pathogenicity avian influenza in poultry. The World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) has published Australia's self-declared HPAI-free status following agreement by the National Management Group that the February 2025 H7N8 outbreak in Victoria has been eradicated. The publication is designed to provide global transparency of a nation's animal health status. There have been no new cases of bird flu detected in poultry since 24 February 2025; the government submitted the self-declaration to the WOAH last month. Meanwhile, the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry has been working closely with trading partners to triage a crippling crisis for the poultry industry that began after H7, a separate strain of the virus, tore through chicken flocks in Victoria, NSW and the ACT in July 2024. More than 1.8 million birds were culled nationwide during that outbreak, decimating the national layer hen flock and causing an Australia-wide retail shortage of eggs, in an effort to contain the spread of the virus while strict quarantine zones and trade restrictions were put in place. The government has also confirmed that Australia remains free of the H5N1 strain, a subtype of avian influenza that remains on its doorstep and has created havoc across entire continents. The highly contagious strain has infected more than 500 wild bird species and 90 mammalian species overseas and, while these were mainly marine mammals and bird-eating scavengers, "spillover" cases have been detected in dairy cattle, cats, goats, alpacas, and pigs. A sheep was also infected after being exposed to a highly contaminated environment in the UK. Asia has been significantly impacted by the H5N1 strain with cases being reported in several countries, including multiple human fatalities linked to the virus in Cambodia notwithstanding that human infections are rare. The government invested more than $100 million last year to enhance national preparedness and response capabilities as stakeholders prepare for a possible future outbreak of H5N1 bird flu in Australia, including the potential impacts to animals, people and ecosystems. Stakeholders said a significant outbreak of the highly pathogenic bird flu, which jumped species to infect humans and more than 80 dairy farms across 11 states in the US, could lead to the "worst environmental disaster in Australia's history". While the eradication of the latest outbreak marks a significant turning point, Agriculture Minister Julie Collins cautioned against complacency and said the joint effort underlines Australia's successful response and management capabilities and ongoing work to combat invasive emergency pests and diseases. "Australia must remain vigilant, as a highly contagious and serious strain of H5 HPAI is spreading globally through movement of migratory wild birds - this strain is not present in Australia," she said. "The rapid spread abroad has killed not only birds but also mammals, and means we cannot afford to be complacent. "The agriculture, environment and health sectors are working in partnership to manage national biosecurity threats that impact Australians." The H7N8 outbreak in February was reported days after the government declared Australia bird flu-free following the 2024 outbreak. A national review of avian influenza preparedness is also currently underway, with recommendations expected by the end of the year. Proposals being considered are permanent upgrades to farm-level biosecurity and improved diagnostic capacity for regional areas. Avian influenza virus strains are either low or high pathogenicity, depending on the impact the disease has on poultry. In Australia, low pathogenicity avian influenza viruses are naturally carried by wild birds, particularly ducks, often without signs of disease, and spread by contaminating the food or water supplies of domestic poultry and this can mutate into high pathogenicity strains on rare occasions. Scientists believe the 2025 outbreak was linked to one of these 'spillover' events. Australia's default policy for bird flu outbreaks is to contain and eradicate the disease in the shortest possible time, without vaccination.
Perth Now
29-06-2025
- General
- Perth Now
Concerns arise over future costs to manage invasive pest
The cities of Stirling and Joondalup are among several councils concerned they'll be left to foot the bill on managing the invasive polyphagous shot-hole borer after the State Government announced it was shifting away from eradicating the destructive pest. The National Management Group met last week and decided the eradication of the shot-hole borer in WA is no longer achievable, based on expert advice. Since being detected in 2021, the invasive pest has forced the removal of more than 4700 infested trees to date. The WA Local Government Association says it is deeply disappointed by the decision to shift from eradication to management and is calling for a long-term funding commitment from the State Government. 'WALGA has long been concerned about the effectiveness of the State's PSHB response and has been calling for greater transparency, research into control methods and more community education and engagement,' WALGA president Karen Chappel said. 'This failure will have significant implications for local government, who are already spending millions to control PSHB and increase tree canopy, and will now face the additional ongoing costs of managing or removing infected and dying trees in public parks and streets.' Following last week's decision, a new national Transition to Management plan is now being finalised, supported by a $26.5 million allocation in the State Budget to urban tree canopy and Treebates programs in a bid to manage the impact of the shot-hole borer. The State Government is hoping to slow and minimise the risk of it spreading beyond local government boundaries and the metropolitan area. The invasive species was first detected in Perth in 2021. Credit: Pia Scanlon In the City of Stirling, where more than 108 trees have been cleared because of infestation, officials are concerned about the potential costs and impacts ahead. 'The city shares WALGA's disappointment about the transition to PSHB management and its concern about the future funding responsibility for that management, particularly after the 18-month transition period due to start on 1 July 2025,' a spokesperson said. 'Clear support and direction are needed from the State Government for the local government sector to be able to plan and deliver effective management of PSHB to protect the Perth-Peel urban forest beyond the transition period.' In the City of Joondalup, where the pest hasn't yet caused widespread damage, CEO James Pearson said the council had been working closely with the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development to monitor and manage risks but warned that given the future spread of the pest, management costs could escalate rapidly, putting extra financial strain on the city. 'There will be financial implications for the city if local governments become responsible for managing PSHB-infected trees in public parks and streets, particularly as the future spread of PSHB is unknown,' Mr Pearson said. 'The city will undertake an audit of its street tree population to identify locations of the current reproductive hosts. The city will continue to plant trees not identified as PSHB reproductive hosts and will investigate preventative treatments.' On Friday, the City of Wanneroo confirmed the pest had reached its jurisdiction after reporting its first confirmed case The State Government has committed an additional $62.6m to biosecurity response activities from 2024-25 to 2027-28, along with $2.17m to fund research projects, including chemical treatments aimed at limiting the spread of the shot-hole borer. WA Agriculture and Food Minister Jackie Jarvis believes the State has a strong foundation to manage the pest moving forward, as the infestation remains confined to the metropolitan area. 'We will continue to look for alternative solutions by supporting local scientists to undertake more research under WA conditions,' Ms Jarvis said. 'The more we can learn about this pest, the better equipped we will be to protect and support our State's tree canopy and agricultural industry.'
The Age
19-06-2025
- Politics
- The Age
WA government changes tack on destructive shot-hole borer, but is it ‘too little, too late'?
The West Australian government's capitulation in the fight to eradicate an invasive pest responsible for the removal of some of Perth's grandest trees has been decried as 'tragic', and newly announced research funding lashed as 'too little, too late'. Agriculture Minister Jackie Jarvis revealed the change in strategy on Thursday morning after a meeting of the National Management Group the day prior deemed it was no longer technically feasible to eradicate the polyphagous shot-hole borer. Instead, the government has shifted to a 'management' approach that will focus on limiting its spread. But Invasive Species Council policy director Dr Carol Booth said it was tragic news with 15 native tree species in WA identified as 'highly or very highly susceptible' to the shot-hole borer. These included iconic species like paperbarks, banksias and eucalypts. Loading 'Another 23 species are moderately susceptible, and that's just in WA. It implies hundreds of native species across the country could be at risk if the borer spreads,' Booth said. 'We are also gravely concerned about the loss of urban trees, which provide vital habitat, shade, beauty and health benefits in our cities and towns. The environmental and social toll could be immense. 'Now that eradication is off the table, the priority must be stopping the borer from spreading beyond the Perth region.'
