What is the likelihood of the H5N1 virus coming to Australia and causing disease in poultry or other birds?
The national Animal Health Committee agrees that there is low likelihood of the H5N1 virus coming to Australia and causing disease in poultry or other birds. The waterfowl that are the normal hosts of avian influenza, and have spread the H5N1 virus across Asia and Europe, do not migrate to Australia. Fortunately, the wading birds that can carry the disease and migrate to Australia have almost no contact with domestic poultry. Australia’s strict quarantine measures are aimed at preventing the disease being transported to Australia. Biosecurity measures in commercial poultry flocks are aimed at preventing infection with diseases such as avian influenza.
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