SciTech News

Avian influenza outbreak

27 March 2025

Only days after declaring the 2024 outbreaks of high pathogenicity avian influenza (HPAI) in Victoria, NSW and ACT as ‘resolved’ (in accordance with World Organisation of Animal Health standards) a ​new outbreak​ of high pathogenicity H7N8 avian influenza was reported on 8 February 2025 in poultry at an egg farm in northern Victoria. Diagnostic testing confirmed that the strain involved is different to the earlier outbreak strains. There are now four Victorian poultry properties affected.

Australia is still free from the H5N1 HPAI (H5 bird flu) strains currently causing concern in animal production and wildlife globally. 

While layer flocks at the farms affected by last year’s outbreaks have been restocked and egg production is gradually returning (likely to take at least another six months), these recent outbreaks demonstrate the sustained pressure on the Australian egg supply.