16 October 2013
Highly pathogenic avian influenza H7N2 outbreak was reported in free range and cage layer hens in Young (New South Wales). The flocks aged 22 and 79 weeks respectively contain 435,000 birds. Eighteen thousand of the hens have already died and all the remaining chickens will be destroyed. The replacement cost of the birds is estimated to be at least $4-million.
Australia last reported HPAI on the 16th November 2012 in the same region, but a different strain, H7N7. In that case, the disease outbreak lead to no further spread and the Australian Authorities declared a return to disease free status on 27th March 2013. The source of the virus was believed to be contact with wild birds.