Egg and poultry producers hit by a potentially devastating avian flu strain have had emergency rules lifted after the virus was eradicated. or signup to continue reading However, an infectious disease expert has warned Australians to remain on high alert as a more virulent strain of the virus, potentially lethal to humans, remains active globally. An outbreak focused on NSW's Hawkesbury region resulted in more than 320,000 animals being destroyed since June to curb infections of the fast-spreading disease.
The cases detected differed from the H5N1 strain that has devastated animal populations overseas, with Australia remaining the only continent free of that highly pathogenic strain. "Emergency zones in the Hawkesbury region have now been lifted in all previously impacted areas," the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development said on Friday. Rachel Purcell, an infectious disease expert at Murdoch Children's Research Institute, said it was good news the emergency had ended, but said the H5N1 risk remained.
"It's important to recognise that the strains of bird flu that we've had here in Australia are different to that highly pathogenic strain that's been seen overseas," she said. With the threat reduced, Dr Purcell said it was a good time to "be forward thinking about what we can do to prevent a future pandemic". "Certain countries have started vaccinating at-risk (human) populations," she said, adding that pregnant women in particular were at risk of contracting.