H5N1 bird flu has been detected in two migratory seabirds in Western Australia, and Minister for Biosecurity Andrew Hoggard says New Zealand poultry operators should start preparing for it arriving on our shores.

“It’s almost a case of when, not if,” he says.

It has impacted virtually everywhere else in the world except Oceania. He says his focus has been on making sure the poultry sector is ready to manage it if it arrives.

The two dead birds in Western Australia do not yet mean the disease has taken hold across the Tasman. He says they may have washed up on shore without moving into Australian wildlife, but the find is a sign the threat is on the way.

If the virus reaches New Zealand wildlife and those populations come into contact with domestic birds, the consequences for a poultry operation are severe. He puts mortality rates at 80 to 90%.

“If it gets into a shed, kiss them goodbye.”

Free-range operations face the hardest task, as a farm hit by the disease faces clearing everything out. He says the question is how to keep birds inside while the risk reduces.

“If you’re free range, there’ll be a period of time where there might be heightened alert.”

He expects an initial period of concern before settling into routine, drawing a comparison with Theileria in the dairy herd.

“Now it’s [Theileira] kind of something that everyone’s just dealing with and living with, and you know the signs, and you know the actions to take.”

Last year’s H7N6 case at Mainland Poultry between Oamaru and Dunedin began when ducks carrying low pathogen avian influenza landed in a paddock with chickens, which took it back into the shed and it mutated into a high pathogen strain.

His message for producers and backyard owners is to prepare. MPI’s on-farm support team is helping develop plans.

“If you’ve got poultry in your backyard or you’re a poultry producer, start thinking about a biosecurity plan.

“It’s just about having good, smart, plans in place, and that can hopefully keep the impacts at a minimum.”

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