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(Bloomberg) — New Zealand officials say they have contained an outbreak of bird flu at a single location in the southern region of Otago.
The Ministry of Primary Industries said farms linked to the original site, which tested positive for avian influenza on December 1, have been confirmed free of the virus after testing on thousands of samples at the end of the full incubation period for the disease . In a statement on Tuesday.
Exports of poultry products worth about NZ$190 million ($107 million) a year were halted in New Zealand after the first case of bird flu was confirmed at an egg farm run by Mainland Poultry. Testing at the first property confirmed a highly pathogenic H7N6 subtype of avian influenza, and not the H5N1 strain causing concern globally.
The ministry said authorities took about 4,300 samples from 36 herds on five farms linked to the first property and none had positive results.
“This is a significant number of tests and gives us confidence that this virus is limited to just one property and that we are on the path to eliminating this disease,” said Chief Veterinary Officer Mary Van Andel.
A clearer incubation-period test would assist ongoing discussions with trading partners regarding New Zealand poultry exports, he said. Some products meeting bird flu heat treatment requirements are being exported to Australia.
The Ministry will work with Mainland Poultry regarding an appropriate stand-down period for the property after decommissioning is complete, and is working closely with the affected farmer on the issue of compensation.
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