A control order has been put in place in a section of Victoria’s north, as authorities battle an outbreak of bird flu.
The detection at a farm in the Strathbogie Shire comes after control measures around Meredith were finally lifted late last year, after spreading to seven local farms.
Agriculture Victoria last month declared the disease eradicated from the state.
The strain since detected at the at the Euroa property is the H7N8 strain of avian influenza, different from the strain that impacted local farmers and some poultry farms in New South Wales and ACT in 2024.
Fortunately, it’s also different from the dangerous and highly contagious H5N1 avian influenza strain impacting the US and other parts of the world.
Authorities say poultry deaths on the property were reported early last week and were investigated by a private vet, with samples sent to Agriculture Victoria returning the positive reult.
The business is now working closely with Agriculture Victoria officers.
It comes amid an egg shortage which is leaving many supermarket shelves bare across Geelong and the Surf Coast.
