Backyard chickens in a Canberra home cause latest flap over bird flu
A Canberra backyard has become the latest site hit by a strain of bird flu.
ACT authorities on Friday confirmed a group of chickens kept at the home had tested positive to the virus, the territoryās second site to be affected.
The home is in a quarantine area set up after an egg facility in Canberraās north detected the virus last week.
Along with the two sites in the ACT, eight farms in Victoria and two in NSW have been forced to close to stop the bird flu spreading.
ACT Environment Minister Rebecca Vassarotti praised the homeās residents for preventing further spread of the virus to the broader bird population.
āWhile disappointing to have a second case, it is not unexpected. Like jurisdictions across the country this is unfortunately the reality of such a highly transmittable virus,ā she said.
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āAvian influenza is very easily transmitted by moving sick birds from property to property, as well as from contaminated boots, equipment and vehicles if proper biosecurity measures arenāt in place.
āWild birds may also be carriers of the virus.ā
More the one million chickens and ducks have been culled due to the outbreaks.
The spread of bird flu had prompted major supermarkets in NSW, Victoria and the ACT to introduce limits of two cartons of eggs per customer.
Fast-food chain McDonaldās had also been forced to shorten its breakfast hours due to egg supply issues.
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