Government announces more than $100 million to fight bird flu

julie collins

The federal government has announced a $95 million investment to protect the public against strains of avian influenza that pose significant risks to the agricultural industry, native wildlife and the national economy.

Australia is the only continent free of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1, but its rapid global spread is causing respiratory disease in domestic poultry, wild birds, and some mammal species. This has caused serious effects such as reduced egg production and sudden death.

The disease is widespread in countries around the world, including the United States, where testing is underway in dairy herds. Beef cattle have not been affected.

According to the American Veterinary Medical Association, avian influenza virus type A (H5N1) has been confirmed in dairy cows in 14 states: 100 cows in California, 64 cows in Colorado, 33 cows in Idaho, 29 cows in Michigan, 26 cows in Texas, 13 in Iowa, nine each in Minnesota and New Mexico, seven in South Dakota, four in Kansas, two in Oklahoma, and one each in North Carolina, Ohio, and Wyoming. .

Testing to date has shown that the virus detected in dairy cows is H5N1, a goose/Cantonese clade of Eurasian lineage, which affects wild birds and commercial poultry flocks, and which affects several wild species. and the same variant that is causing sporadic infections in domestic mammals. American people.

Today's announcement includes:

• $37 million invested in efforts to protect Australian agriculture.
  • $15 million to strengthen the nation's biosecurity response capacity and strengthen oversight with key partners, including states and territories.
  • $5 million to strengthen biosecurity and scientific capacity, including the procurement of vaccines for use in some endangered bird species in captivity.
  • Up to $10 million has been invested in nationally coordinated communications to ensure Australian communities are informed, prepared and protected.
  • $7 million has been invested to strengthen bird monitoring efforts through Wildlife Health Australia to improve early detection and reporting capacity.
• $35.9 million will be invested to strengthen environmental protection and accelerate conservation efforts for endangered species and priority biodiversity. Efforts include support for state and territory governments to strengthen preparedness plans for the most vulnerable species and locations, and support for key conservation partners to strengthen protection of valuable captive populations of endangered species. Includes assistance.
• $22.1 million to strengthen public health preparedness by increasing the number of ready-to-use pandemic influenza vaccines in the national medical stockpile. Although human infection with avian influenza viruses is rare, the Interim Australian Center for Disease Control is focused on ensuring Australia is as prepared as possible for the possibility of human infection.

It is also in addition to the previously announced $6.9 million to strengthen the nation's preparedness and response capabilities for a potential HPAI H5N1 incursion in Australia.

Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries julie collins:

“The Albanon Labor Government has already invested more than $1 billion into our national biosecurity system to ensure we are prepared for introductory threats like this type of bird flu.

“This strain of avian influenza poses a real and significant threat to Australia's agricultural sector. It highlights the importance.

“That's why we're investing more than $100 million in preparedness.

“Today's announcement strengthens our ability to detect any intrusions and strengthen biosecurity responses when critical, and we will partner to jointly manage national biosecurity threats. ”

Virus hits U.S. dairy herds

Avian influenza virus type A (H5N1) has been confirmed in dairy cows in 14 U.S. states, including 100 cows in California, 64 cows in Colorado, and 33 cows in Idaho, the American Veterinary Medical Association released an update on Friday. , Michigan 29, Texas 26, Iowa 13, Minnesota and New Mexico 9 each, South Dakota 7, Kansas 4, Oklahoma 2, North Carolina, Ohio State and Wyoming had one each. Testing to date indicates that the virus detected in U.S. dairy cows is H5N1 of the Eurasian goose/Cantonese clade, affecting wild birds and commercial poultry flocks, and causing sporadic infections in several wild and domestic mammals. It has been shown that this is the same variant that causes the virus. And people in the United States.

• For more information on the Australian Government's response to the HPAI H5N1 threat, please visit: avianflu.gov.au

Source: Minister of Agriculture