Photo courtesy of Anadolu
Australia’s Victoria state will require poultry keepers with more than 50 birds to house them indoors as authorities respond to a growing number of H5N1 avian influenza detections.
The mandatory order expands an earlier voluntary measure and will initially remain in effect for 14 days.
Victoria Agriculture Minister Michaela Settle said the restriction was intended to reduce contact between farmed birds and potentially infected wildlife.
State veterinary authorities strengthened the response after new detections were recorded in Yambuk, Apollo Bay and Clyde.
Australian Chief Veterinary Officer Beth Cookson said another 20 positive detections had been confirmed in greater crested terns in the Portland and Nelson area.
Australia has recorded 175 confirmed or presumed positive H5 detections based on tested samples, according to ABC News.
Authorities said the virus had not been detected in poultry or the agricultural production system, while the risk to people remained very low.
The spread has also affected public events, with the Royal Adelaide Show cancelling its bird and poultry exhibits scheduled for next month.