Australia is grappling with an unprecedented threat as three distinct strains of avian influenza have emerged across the country in 2024, experts report.
Debbie Eagles and Frank Wong from the Australian Center for Disease Preparedness at the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) highlighted the severity of the situation on Monday. The highly pathogenic H7 strains have been detected in poultry farms across the southeastern states of Victoria and New South Wales, as well as the Australian Capital Territory.
The outbreaks have led to the culling of over 500,000 chickens, a measure taken to prevent further spread of the virus. This development poses significant challenges to Australia's poultry industry, emphasizing the need for robust disease preparedness and response strategies.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
