The NSW Government is working with the ACT Government following the detection of a suspected case of Avian Influenza in an egg production site in the ACT, linked to the confirmation of High Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) at a farm in the Hawkesbury last Wednesday 19 June.
The NSW Government has offered assistance to the ACT Minister for the Environment, Rebecca Vassarotti as their team responds to the issue. We are undertaking a collaborative approach to dealing with this biosecurity issue.
Avian Influenza is not a food safety concern, and it is safe to eat poultry meat and eggs after proper handling and cooking.
The Avian Influenza virus is a low risk to the public. Transmission to humans is very rare, and unlikely unless there is direct and close contact with sick birds.
Proactive surveillance from the NSW Government’s Biosecurity Incident Management team has been tracing movement of eggs and materials from the infected sites as part of the response.
Surveillance in the Hawkesbury biosecurity emergency zone and tracing of related premises is ongoing.
NSW and ACT Governments will continue to provide updates to the community and industry as they become available.
The ACT located commercial egg farm has been locked down with no products, eggs, and machinery allowed in or out, and the site’s hens will need to be depopulated.