An additional 80,000 chickens are set to be culled at an egg production facility in rural Otago affected by avian influenza. This will increase the overall number of chickens culled at a Mainland Poultry establishment in Hillgrove, Otago, to 160,000. Dr. Mary van Andel, chief veterinary officer for the Ministry for Primary Industries, stated today […]
An additional 80,000 chickens are set to be culled at an egg production facility in rural Otago affected by avian influenza.
This will increase the overall number of chickens culled at a Mainland Poultry establishment in Hillgrove, Otago, to 160,000.
Dr. Mary van Andel, chief veterinary officer for the Ministry for Primary Industries, stated today that testing and surveillance indicate that the highly pathogenic strain of avian influenza, H7N6, is still restricted to the farm but has spread internally.
“As anticipated, a third shed on the Hillgrove site has returned a positive result for HPAI, and its 40,000 chickens will be euthanized in the upcoming days,” Dr. van Andel mentioned.
“There is a fourth shed, housing 40,000 chickens, which has not yet tested positive, but we plan to remove its flock as it is highly probable that it is infected.”
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Dr. van Andel noted that an unrelated small farm near Dunedin that was tested throughout the week has been verified as free from HPAI.
She also mentioned that ongoing monitoring and initial test results indicate no infection present on five other Mainland Poultry sites associated with the Hillgrove farm.
Further information on this matter
The Hillgrove farm is currently under stringent biosecurity measures.
Dr. van Andel confirmed that there have been no indications of sick birds elsewhere in the nation, and assured that there is no risk to the supply of eggs and chicken, nor any concerns regarding food safety or human health.
