CVO Bulletin: Avian Influenza H7N8 in Greater Sydney
NSW Department of Primary Industries and CSIRO’s Australian Centre for Disease Preparedness (ACDP) have confirmed the presence of high pathogenic avian influenza, serotype H7N8 in samples from a mixed barnyard and free-range commercial egg farm in Greater Sydney. The detection of the virus was confirmed by PCR (polymerase chain reaction) on Wednesday 19 June after ruling out other likely viral causes.
This is the first detection on avian influenza in NSW since 2013. All three previous detections of avian influenza in NSW have been successfully eradicated.
There is no known connection to the Greater Sydney case and the current Victorian H7N3 HPAI outbreak.
In addition, the H7N8 strain detected in Greater Sydney is not the same as the globally circulating H5N1 strain that is causing mass poultry and wildlife mortalities overseas.
Eggs and chicken meat remain safe to eat provided they are handled and cooked as per standard food handling practices.
The H7N8 avian influenza virus is not a risk to the public as it rarely affects humans unless there is direct and close contact with sick birds.