Can hunters contract H5N1 Avian Influenza from wild birds?
Recreational duck hunting is not permitted in NSW. Culling of pest birds is permitted under permits from (NPWS and/or Game Council). In such cases, the risk is extremely low as long as Australia remains free of the disease. To reduce the risk even further the following suggestions are common sense precautions that permit holders should follow normally when hunting: • Do not handle birds that are obviously sick or birds found dead. • Keep your game birds cool, clean, and dry. • Do not eat, drink, or smoke while cleaning your birds. • Use rubber gloves when cleaning game. • Wash your hands with soap and water or alcohol wipes after dressing birds. • Clean all tools and surfaces immediately afterward; use hot soapy water, then disinfect with a 10% chlorine bleach solution. • Cook game meat thoroughly.
