HPAI INDUSTRY ONLY UPDATE
This is an update from Industry for members of PIANZ and EPF on the recent HPAI outbreak in Otago. Previously, progress in HPAI preparations across the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) and Industry was shared with members via a joint monthly newsletter.
This newsletter was paused in December when New Zealand’s first Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) was detected in an Otago farm. MPI provided the media with a daily update between 2nd and 7th December, with the final update on 9th December. MPI’s proactive, regular media updates will be provided again if material changes occur.
The industry understands this has been an anxious time for all farmers, not just the farms directly affected by this HPAI H7N6 outbreak. We want to support you with as much information as we can to help you strengthen your biosecurity and understand the tools available to help you do that. The Otago farm outbreak was a resounding warning to all in our industry that a farm of this size, with strong biosecurity, could still be impacted so devastatingly fast by an HPAI outbreak. On the positive, it gave us real-time experience in managing an outbreak, and the learnings from this will help improve our collective response if another HPAI incursion happens.
Before this, the industry and MPI had been working on readiness planning for an HPAI H5N1 outbreak. The coincidence of timing is not lost on us, and we are incredibly grateful for the initial progress that all EPF and PIANZ members made by initial guidance from MPI and Industry.
While far from ideal, it was fortunate that this outbreak was not the highly virulent H5N1 strain that has swept most countries in recent years. Instead, a local strain emerged after a low pathogenic strain in waterfowl was picked up when mixed with this farm’s foraging free-range layer hens. Once in the layer hens, it mutated into a highly pathogenic H7N6 strain. To prevent more birds from becoming infected, falling ill, and dying, international experience tells us that a complete farm depopulation was the only way to contain this quickly.
Current Situation Update:
- Testing and monitoring continue to show no signs of HPAI outside of Mainland Poultry’s farm at Hillgrove, Otago, where depopulation of the entire farm was completed (Wednesday, 11th December)
- A total of 200,000 birds were culled, with MPI animal welfare people on site to ensure Mainland Poultry met the requirements for the depopulation
- Mainland Poultry also had an independent vet on site to supervise and monitor the depopulation process. All worked hard to limit the chickens’ suffering and protect the rest of the industry from bird flu.
- The response effort will continue over the coming weeks, and the Hillgrove site remains under strict biosecurity controls as it undergoes cleaning and decontamination, which will take some time
- There have been no reports of unexplained sickness in poultry elsewhere in the country
- MPI remains confident that we are on the right track to eliminate H7N6 from New Zealand. The fact that the virus has only been detected on one farm to date and nowhere else is good news
- MPI has worked to protect as much of New Zealand’s existing trade as possible, and it continues to make positive progress in resuming safe trade
- To date, agreement has been reached with Australia to continue the export of some poultry products, including chicken meant, dried pet food and dog rolls that meet avian influenza heat treatment requirements
Second Dunedin small free-range layer farm – Update:
- On December 10th, MPI revoked a precautionary Restricted Place notice on the small free-range layer farm near Dunedin
- The notice was revoked following confirmation that chickens on this property had tested positive for chronic fowl cholera, not HPAI H7N6. Chronic fowl cholera is endemic to New Zealand and is managed under a registered individual Risk Management Programme (RMP). The birds are being treated in consultation with the farm’s veterinarian with no risk to other farms or food safety risk to consumers
What happens in an outbreak?
We appreciate that at a time like this, farmers are justifiably focused on their farms and biosecurity. This is totally where the farmer’s focus should be. At the centre of the outbreak, however, it is helpful to understand the many moving parts with hundreds of people working around the clock across Government, MPI, on-farm, and Industry to resolve the situation as quickly as possible.
MPI staff and a massive team from the mainland were present at the affected farm.
MPI invested significant resources and had a strong staff presence in Otago, based out of the Regional Control Centre. More than 200 people across MPI have been working on the response. Media management was also critical in promptly ensuring the right facts corrected misinformation or rumours.
Moving forward:
Industry members Chris Martin and Kerry Mulqueen have respectively spent time at MPI recently, sitting in the response room (National Control Centre, with the teams that continue to manage the situation. While the Industry worked closely to follow MPI’s lead in this response, the meetings highlighted that future collaboration would benefit from a dedicated industry liaison that could streamline information sharing and provide MPI with better insights into farm operations. This would also help ensure that the response is tailored to farms of varying shapes and sizes.
Further progress is being made with the EPF, which has signed up to the Government Industry Agreement (GIA). This agreement creates a partnership between the Government and EPF members to create a joint biosecurity response in case of an outbreak that threatens the industry.
It gives the EPF a seat at the decision-making table so that needs specific to the egg industry are prominent and considered. PIANZ is already a member of the GIA.
Housing orders update:
As free-range farming has grown in New Zealand, so too have the risks associated with having birds outside. MPI has been monitoring low pathogenic avian influenza (LPAI) in wild birds for the past 20 years, and we know LPAI is present in wild birds in New Zealand, especially waterfowl like ducks, geese, and swans. This outbreak of H7N6 in Otago is the first occurrence in New Zealand of LPAI mutating into HPAI in poultry due to contact between wild birds and poultry.
PIANZ and EPF understand that farmers must house free-range birds in a perceived effort to reduce the risk of HPAI to their flock. With this situation in Otago contained and testing continuing to show no detection of HPAI anywhere else in the country, there is no determinable threat of HPAI from wild birds. When there is no threat, MPI will not support housing orders.
Farmers who house their free-range birds and still market their products as ‘Free Range’ risk being charged with misleading advertising. The industry cannot support these farmers as the evidence does not justify their actions thoroughly. The Commerce Commission requires clear communication to customers when packing claims like ‘Free Range’ are incorrect – even temporarily. Communication efforts such as over-stickering, in-aisle advertisements and media releases would be required. Industry can support you by collaborating to develop a robust biosecurity plan that ensures your biosecurity standards are the best to protect your free-range flock from external environmental threats. This is a more pragmatic approach, supported by MPI and Industry.
It is also understandable that farmers may be tempted to go the ‘extra mile’ to protect their flock by shooting wild birds or organising unauthorised avian influenza tests to test their flock. The current threat of HPAI remains the same – it is shallow, and this HPAI H7N6 outbreak was confined to one farm. As such, the Department of Conservation (DOC) does not justify shooting wild birds, which can act against farmers if this is discovered. As with its support of MPI, the industry would also support DOC in this case.
Unauthorised avian influenza tests carry profound trade implications for the country and exporters. If avian influenza is detected falsely through one of these home tests and reported, the impact on trade would be unnecessarily grave – not just for the poultry industry but broader for hatchery and dairy farmers. If you are concerned about unwell birds in your flock, the correct process is to contact your veterinarian. If you find three or more dead wild birds, notify the Exotic Pest and Diseases Hotline, 0800 80 99 66. It is staffed 24/7 and will be able to help you immediately.
This information is designed to help farmers understand the risk to their business and the available practical alternatives.
Draft Biosecurity Plan
As part of our joint work with MPI and QConz, the EPF has developed a Biosecurity Audit. EPF members can register for and use it to evaluate their farm biosecurity for robustness.
PIANZ members already have their on-farm biosecurity audited as part of their RMP plan and company manuals.
The egg industry and MPI have developed an on-farm Biosecurity Plan to assist layer farmers further, and a trial has already been completed on a layer farm. A second trial is due before Christmas. The initial feedback from the trial farm is that the draft Biosecurity Plan is sound. The plan can be tailored to each layer of the farm’s needs. We appreciate that what may suit one operation is not helpful for another, so MPI has agreed to help deliver it to individual farms and help tailor it to their operations.
The office will discuss this Plan with the poultry meat industry to see if it contains any recommendations that can complement its biosecurity documents and information.
Next Steps
This newsletter is the last Industry update for 2024, as the office closes from midday Tuesday, December 24, through to Friday, January 3, 2025.
MPI will provide proactive media updates as needed. They can be found on MPI’s website here: https://www.mpi.govt.nz/h7n6-otago.
We know you may have questions about HPAI and this outbreak that are specific to your operation. If the answers are not apparent in this newsletter, can you please take a moment to send them in writing to a dedicated email with the subject Line “HPAI MEMBER FEEDBACK” by 3rd January 2025?
Email: [email protected]
We will collate all questions and work through answering your queries in the following Industry newsletter later in January. The joint industry newsletter updates from MPI and Industry will also resume in early 2025.
We hope you have a safe and happy Christmas break and look forward to talking to you again in the new year.
