Minister for Agriculture and Regional NSW Tara Moriarty confirmed today the successful eradication of avian influenza in the Hawkesbury region, one of the most significant outbreaks in the state’s history.

The NSW Government’s eradication of avian influenza in this zone is a terrific win for our poultry and egg producers, plus consumers, with businesses now able to get back to normal.

From Friday, 24 January 2024, the emergency zones will be removed and all emergency orders will be lifted, including movement restrictions for birds, objects and other equipment, officially bringing an end to the NSW Government’s Avian Influenza response.

This follows the easing of the Hawkesbury emergency zone in December 2024 with no new detections of the disease occurring in the area after July 2024. The required surveillance time with no virus detections has now elapsed, so the control order can now be revoked.

The NSW Government’s avian influenza response and eradication actions included:

• Managing depopulation of virus impacted birds
• 288 Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) and inter-agency staff working on the response
• 6,801 samples tested
• 76,000 targeted SMS to property owners
• 1,500 letters delivered in a letterbox drop to the Hawkesbury
• 1,051 calls to the Emergency Animal Disease hotline

In June 2024, Government Biosecurity teams detected and responded to an avian influenza outbreak at two commercial poultry farms and four non–commercial premises in the Hawkesbury region.

All infected premises were subject to quarantine, depopulation, disposal and decontamination in accordance with the AUSVETPLAN Response Strategy for avian influenza ensuring all premises were free of traces of the diseases before regular operations could resume.

The H7N8 avian influenza strain detected in NSW was not the same as the H5N1 strain that is causing concern globally. Australia remains free of the H5N1 strain of avian influenza. In addition it was not connected to the Victorian outbreak of avian influenza.

This has taken an immense response by the NSW Government working with industry, farmers and the community to control this outbreak and eventually eradicate the virus. I want to thank all the staff and industry personnel who worked tirelessly to protect the industry and minimise impacts.

For more information on the NSW Government’s response to the H7 Avian Influenza outbreak, visit: dpi.nsw.gov.au/avian-influenza