Poultry industry on guard for any avian invasion

As avian influenza threatens to sweep across Europe, New Zealand poultry industry representatives have released updated plans to ensure producers are ready for any outbreak.

Poultry Industry Association and Egg Producers Federation executive director Michael Brooks says an outbreak would be catastrophic for the $700 million poultry and egg industry.

"Thailand was the world's biggest exporter of chickens when avian influenza broke out in 2004," he says. "[It] just about decimated their poultry industry, millions and millions of birds. A similar thing would arise here."

The federation has prepared a document, in association with Biosecurity New Zealand, detailing response policies and plans. It updates current documentation and draws together the latest information on virus analysis, diagnosis, transmission, risk profiles, control measures and communication policy.

Brooks says the 200-page report displays the industry's "healthy paranoia" regarding safety.

"You hope as much as possible you've covered every potential gap. In this sort of process that's what you do. You go back and have a look."

Strict import controls and geographical isolation have so far kept safe an industry which produced 87.5 million chickens last year.

Brooks says it has been fortunate that ducks and geese, which can carry influenza without displaying symptoms, do not migrate across the equator to mix with potentially infected Northern Hemisphere counterparts.

Other birds that do migrate here are not crossing areas of risk.

"It's not to say we're not taking it seriously, but it gives us that protection."

At present only adequately processed food products and hatchery eggs are imported into New Zealand.

Hatchery eggs are isolated at secure locations and only the great-grandchildren from the original imported eggs are sold for meat and egg production.

"There's still a potential risk from smuggled birds, but you rely on Customs and Biosecurity to be very hot on that issue," he says.

Susan Cork, senior science adviser for animals at Biosecurity New Zealand, says the potential spread of the virus in Europe hasn't changed the agency's approach. "We've always had a plan".

"Yes people are concerned, we're monitoring it, we're taking it very seriously. But we don't want people to panic."

The symptoms of avian influenza include loss of condition and blood- tinged discharge from the nose or in diarrhoea.

But Cork says symptoms can vary between bird species. Other conditions, including botulism and salmonella, can also kill birds.

* For more information phone Biosecurity 0800 809-966 or visit the link below.