<?xml version="1.0" encoding="ISO-8859-1"?> <docID>336935</docID> <postdate>2025-01-24 17:16:54</postdate> <headline>Bird flu outbreak gone but virus threats remain</headline> <body><p><img class="size-full wp-image-336936" src="https://citynews.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/20231102001859656651-original-resized.jpg" alt="" width="900" height="601" /></p> <caption>An outbreak of avian flu in NSW has been eradicated, with restrictions on poultry producers lifted. (Bianca De Marchi/AAP PHOTOS)</caption> <p class="wire-column__preview__author"><span class="kicker-line">By <b>Sam McKeith and Rachel Ward</b> in Sydney</span></p> <p><strong>Egg and poultry producers hit by a potentially devastating avian flu strain have had emergency rules lifted after the virus was eradicated.</strong></p> <p>However, an infectious disease expert has warned Australians to remain on high alert as a more virulent strain of the virus, potentially lethal to humans, remains active globally.</p> <p>An outbreak focused on NSW's Hawkesbury region resulted in more than 320,000 animals being destroyed since June to curb infections of the fast-spreading disease.</p> <p>The cases detected differed from the H5N1 strain that has devastated animal populations overseas, with Australia remaining the only continent free of that highly pathogenic strain.</p> <p>"Emergency zones in the Hawkesbury region have now been lifted in all previously impacted areas," the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development said on Friday.</p> <p>Rachel Purcell, an infectious disease expert at Murdoch Children's Research Institute, said it was good news the emergency had ended, but said the H5N1 risk remained.</p> <p>"It's important to recognise that the strains of bird flu that we've had here in Australia are different to that highly pathogenic strain that's been seen overseas," she said.</p> <p>With the threat reduced, Dr Purcell said it was a good time to "be forward thinking about what we can do to prevent a future pandemic".</p> <p>"Certain countries have started vaccinating at-risk (human) populations," she said, adding that pregnant women in particular were at risk of contracting avian flu.</p> <p>NSW Agriculture Minister Tara Moriarty said ridding the state of the virus took an "immense response" by authorities "working with industry, farmers and the community".</p> <p>"I want to thank all the staff and industry personnel who worked tirelessly to protect the industry and minimise impacts," she said.</p> <div class="wire-column__preview__text" id="preview-body"> <p>The move by NSW came after Agriculture Victoria earlier in January lifted quarantine from the last of eight commercial properties impacted by that state's avian influenza outbreak.</p> <p>About one million birds were destroyed to bring the Victorian outbreak, Australia's largest on record, under control.</p> <p>The mass culling of birds in NSW and Victoria led to widespread, continuing egg shortages in supermarkets.</p> <p>The 163-day response included movement restrictions for poultry, related products and equipment and an order for poultry to limit interaction with wild birds.</p> <p>Avian influenza, commonly known as "bird flu", is a highly contagious virus that can cause sudden death in poultry.</p> <p>The World Health Organization says the deadly H5N1 strain rarely affects humans and is not easily transferred between people.</p> </div> </body>