HPAI H5N1 disposal guidelines and more inside this month's newsletter
Issue 10, 1 August 2025
Regional disposal guidelines for HPAI H5N1
PIANZ and EPF offices have been working with resource management advisor, Harrison Grierson, to develop disposal guidelines for poultry carcasses and waste affected by HPAI H5N1.
The purpose of the disposal guidelines is to provide each farmer/company with individual knowledge of the disposal options available to them in their own region.
This is a resource that will be of genuine value to all farmers across poultry and egg production. The guidelines have been developed so that when there is an HPAI H5N1 outbreak in a particular area, affected farmers will be able to move quickly to depopulate, with these guidelines informing the process for disposal in their local area.
The disposal guidelines are tailored for each of the 15 districts around New Zealand. They provide information for farmers on disposal considerations, such as:
- which local landfills can take carcasses/waste
- advice on local resource consent
- advice on offal pits
- which regional transport companies can be used in a disposal job
- disposal options and rules specific to each region
- composting on site or off site
Michael Brooks, Executive Director of PIANZ and EPF, says the information the guidelines contain is comprehensive.
“This is a highly detailed piece of work that was completed in an impressive timeframe, considering the layers of information it contains. It will be of relevance to all parties involved in the response to an H5N1 incursion, from MPI, through to local transport companies and local councils.
“These guidelines are an integral part of the overall industry response plan for HPAI H5N1. They have been shared with farmers and the next step for industry is to communicate with every regional council regarding their local disposal plan to get their feedback.”
The disposal guidelines will also be available on PIANZ and EPF member websites and will be a useful resource in supporting farmers develop biosecurity response plans in the event of H5N1 arrival on New Zealand shores.
Update – MPI’s avian influenza surveillance
MPI has been monitoring low pathogenic avian influenza (LPAI) in wild bird populations here for over 20 years and we know many species of wild birds may have strains of avian influenza viruses. Although LPAI causes few or no signs of illness in wild birds, it can mutate into HPAI if it infects chickens.
Each summer, MPI partners with Fish and Game New Zealand to collect samples from mallard ducks for avian influenza surveillance, with a particular focus on coastal areas where ducks might have had contact with migratory shore birds arriving in spring.
Samples are tested for avian influenza and any positive samples are further tested for specific subtypes.
In 2025, a total of 2,434 samples were collected from 1,217 mallard ducks (from Parakai Springs, Paeroa, Te Awamutu, Kaituna and Waewaetutuki in Bay of Plenty) and tested for the presence of avian influenza virus.
Of these, 1,540 samples from 989 mallards tested positive for the presence of avian influenza viruses. All positive samples underwent H5- and H7-specific PCR testing. Samples from 10 ducks from Kaituna returned positive results – one for an H5 subtype and nine for H7 subtypes, all of which were confirmed as LPAI. Further work is ongoing to isolate viruses and carry out genomic characterisation of these LPAI strains detected in 2025.
Wildlife pilot extended
Following a successful pilot study with the Dunedin Wildlife Hospital, which involved screening samples from migratory species of wild birds for avian influenza, MPI has expanded wild bird surveillance for avian influenza to include four other wildlife hospitals. Samples from wild birds cared for at South Island Wildlife Hospital (Christchurch), The Nest (Wellington Zoo), New Zealand Centre for Conservation Medicine (Auckland Zoo) and Birdcare Aotearoa (Auckland) are being screened for avian influenza.
New Zealand avian disease notifications trending down from December/January peak
Notifications of avian disease and mortality events through MPI’s 0800 number form a key part of New Zealand’s surveillance for exotic diseases like HPAI. In 2024, notifications increased significantly from previous years, before peaking at the end of the year following the detection of H7N6 in an Otago poultry farm.
In the year to 31 December 2024, MPI’s exotic pest and disease hotline received 395 notifications about avian wildlife disease or mortality compared to 76 notifications in 2023, an almost 420 percent increase. Of those, approximately 20 percent were opened as investigations for exotic avian diseases, all of which excluded HPAI, Newcastle disease, West Nile virus and any other exotic diseases of concern.
To date in 2025, notifications have dropped from their peak in December/January. The rise in notifications last year is most likely attributable to the increased awareness and media attention directed toward HPAI H5N1 overseas and the detection of H7N6 at Hillgrove in Otago.
HPAI detections overseas
In the United States (US) HPAI H5N1 reports in poultry have been dropping in recent months, down from 5.2 million birds affected in April 2025 to 0.03 million in June. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is streamlining its H5N1 avian flu updates to reflect the current public health situation, marked by declines in reports of human cases as well as reports in animal.
The University of Minnesota’s Center for Infection Disease Research and Policy (IDRAP) reports that new outbreaks have slowed during the warm-weather months. The most recent outbreak reported by APHIS is at a commercial game bird farm in Pennsylvania, confirmed on July 2. The last report in dairy cattle was on June 24.
The latest information on outbreaks in commercial and backyard poultry in the US is available here:
England, Scotland and Wales continue to be designated as an Avian Influenza Protection Zone. There have been two recent (July) detections in England, in poultry and captive birds. In June there were two detections in Wales. A 3km Protection Zone and 10km Surveillance Zone have been put in place around all infected premises to align with EU trading requirements.
The UK has made a self declaration of freedom from HPAI in poultry for Northern Ireland in accordance with World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) guidelines.
South Africa has reported HPAI H5N1 on two poultry farms, the first cases reported by the country since September 2024.
Spain has reported HPAI H5N1 bird flu on a fattening turkey farm in the southwestern region of Extremadura, according to WOAH. The outbreak killed almost the entire flock of 6,895 turkeys, with the 10 surviving birds slaughtered as a precaution.
PIANZ and EPF member contact details
In the event of a disease outbreak such as HPAI, the ability to communicate quickly is imperative so that neighbouring farms can take swift action to protect their flocks – but this relies on having accurate and up-to-date farmer contact information.
We know that significant disease outbreaks require rapid, accurate farmer contact. We have the opportunity now to get these details updated, but member engagement is critical.
PIANZ and EPF offices will be sending out a further request to farmers to check current contact details shortly, and request they are updated or confirmed as soon as possible.
Resources
A new factsheet has more information about the On Farm Support team and its work with egg farmers:
www.mpi.govt.nz/dmsdocument/70225-Biosecurity-support-for-egg-farmers/
The Poultry Industry Association of New Zealand (PIANZ) and the Egg Producers Federation (EPF) have joined with the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) to provide farmers with this update about our preparations for high pathogenicity avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1.
