Issue 3, 6 August 2024
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 regular updates about our preparations for high pathogenicity avian influenza (HPAI).
Industry/MPI delegations to Australia and United Kingdom
Australia
A small delegation of representatives from PIANZ, EPF and MPI visited Victoria in Australia at the end of July to observe and learn from the operational response into the HPAI H7 strains that have been detected there. The visit included meetings with the Chief Veterinary Officer and biosecurity staff of the Department of Agriculture, and visits to the mobile command centre at Meredith and state control centre in Melbourne.
Although Australia does not have H5N1, the strain of HPAI we are particularly concerned about, its response to the current H7 outbreak provided useful insights for the New Zealand delegation. The visiting team assessed the best practice and innovations in biosecurity that underpinned the Australian response and were able to share New Zealand’s approach to biosecurity emergencies. Laboratory testing facilities and meetings with Australia’s epidemiology team gave valuable insights into the need to balance disease control while maintaining business continuity in affected regions as much as possible.
In Australia, HPAI H7 strains were detected in Victoria, New South Wales and Australian Capital Territory in June. There have been no further detections. MPI is closely monitoring developments in Australia and is in regular contact with counterparts there.
United Kingdom
Representatives from PIANZ, EPF and staff from MPI are currently in the United Kingdom. The UK is considered to be most similar to New Zealand in terms of geographic size and environment, so having a close look at how H5N1 has impacted their industry will give New Zealand the best opportunity to learn from their response.
The goal is to learn from colleagues there to further refine New Zealand planning. We don’t want to become the UK, but to take a holistic view across as many people as will share their learnings with us. We will take the opportunity to build trust, confidence and relationships while translating technical knowledge into commercial implications and potential solutions for the New Zealand situation. We want to understand what risk mitigations worked at farm level, their complexity and cost, how wildlife surveillance has been used to inform farm level biosecurity measures and the role that housing orders have played.
John McKay, Judith Mair, Kerry Mulqueen, Matt Easton, Mike Fleming, Shelena Wiggill and Sophie Shaw are representing PIANZ and EPF alongside four specialist staff from MPI – including Chief Veterinary Officer Mary van Andel. The trip includes visits to broiler farms and a hatchery, including a free-range broiler farm and seasonal turkey producer, as well as a laying farm unit and egg packing station.
The delegation is meeting with the British Poultry Council and the British Egg Industry Council, the Chief Veterinary Officer for the UK and staff from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) – the government agency responsible for managing the UK’s response to HPAI. It will also visit a wildlife centre.
Both trips will be used to sharpen ongoing operational planning and building of sector resilience at home. Key findings from the delegations will be shared with industry through the existing joint working groups and governance groups.
For wider member education and interest, a webinar will be held so that key learnings from both visits can be shared, along with a forum for questions and answers. Details of this webinar will be circulated separately to members once the delegation returns and debriefs the relevant teams.
MPI operational planning update
Operational planning within MPI is continuing, with a current focus on establishing the scale of response operations across what is known as the “3Ds” (depopulation, disposal and decontamination).
A stocktake of industry resourcing to do the 3Ds in the event of an HPAI incursion began this month, with a questionnaire going out to operational managers at some of the larger poultry producers and egg operators, quality assurance managers, veterinary service providers, and industry bodies. The questionnaire asks about industry preferences and the capability and capacity industry would have in the event of an incursion.
Talk to Michael or Kerry if you want more information. Responses to the questionnaire will inform operational plans in readiness for spring.
Strengthening our Biosecurity resilience: Project update
MPI, PIANZ and EPF are continuing to work together to support farmers to have robust biosecurity plans in place and support the wider industry to be prepared.
Good information about keeping workers safe and the personal protective equipment (PPE) that should be used will be essential. Health New Zealand is working with MPI, the Department of Conservation and Worksafe to develop health and safety guidance.
The guidance will apply to workers who could be exposed to HPAI if it is detected in New Zealand – including poultry farmers and processers – and people who might be involved with depopulation and disposal. The guidance is likely to be finalised within the next few weeks. You’ll be able to access it through the PIANZ and EPF websites.
We know that small to medium size egg producers and especially those with free-range birds may need more support with business continuity and resilience planning than larger producers who have more resources. MPI is considering how its On Farm Support team can provide additional support to smaller producers to improve on-farm biosecurity. In the meantime, the information on the MPI website for commercial poultry farmers provides a good starting point for producers to review and improve your biosecurity.
Commercial poultry – minimise the risk of avian influenza to your flocks
Free farm biosecurity audit for EPF members
EPF members are able to undertake a free farm audit to help assess biosecurity readiness and adherence to the Layer Hen Code of Welfare.
Biosecurity is critical to preparing for the threat of the High-Pathogenicity Avian Influenza strain, H5N1. The Egg Producers Federation has developed two audits to assist members. One assesses best practice on-farm biosecurity, and the other assesses your operation against the welfare standards in the Layer Hen welfare code.
EPF members interested in the audits should contact Michael Brooks at the EPF office: 09 520 4300, 027 221 8228 or michael@pianz.org.nz.
MPI is continuing to see an increase in calls to its Exotic Pest and Disease Hotline, as awareness of HPAI increases.
MPI’s Animal Health Incursion Investigation team is responsible for investigating reports of suspected HPAI. When the team receives a report, it considers a range of factors:
- event history (has this type of event happened before in this location?)
- the number of affected birds
- clinical signs, species
- location
- epidemiological trends.
What happens if HPAI is suspected?
Incursion investigators open an investigation and collect samples from the infected bird/s. Samples are then submitted to MPI’s Animal Health Laboratory (AHL) for testing.
Samples suspected of HPAI undergo testing for the presence of avian influenza virus at MPI’s Physical Containment Level 3 (PC3) facility.
Investigations and their associated test results are reported in MPI’s Surveillance magazine and contribute to epidemiological evidence of New Zealand’s disease status.
This year, AHL has tested samples from 23 different species of birds resulting from investigations, including petrels, pukeko, yellow-eyed penguins, swans, sparrows, tui, chickens, Canadian geese, sooty shearwater and multiple species of ducks and gulls. All were negative for HPAI.
In addition to this, and as part of a pilot with the Dunedin Wildlife Hospital, about 60 wild birds were sampled and tested for avian influenza, with no detections of either the low or high pathogenicity forms. These included various penguin species, New Zealand falcons, albatross, prion and Australian harriers.
Resources
Biosecurity New Zealand’s information and advice on HPAI
Poster: signs of avian influenza in poultry
Signs of HPAI – A3 poster – MPI
MPI newsletter to wider primary industries sector
Update on high pathogenicity avian influenza (bird flu) readiness
Australian government website with updates on HPAI outbreak
www.outbreak.gov.au/current-outbreaks/avian-influenza
