The culling of 80,000 chickens to contain New Zealand’s first confirmed outbreak of avian influenza or bird flu is expected to take place today.
This comes after the initial announcement on Monday that 40,000 birds had been infected, Biosecurity New Zealand deputy director-general Stuart Anderson said in a statement on Tuesday that the virus had spread to a second shed on the Otago farm, bringing the total number to 80,000.
Anderson said the humane culling, with the farmer’s co-operation, would start on Wednesday and take up to three days.
All New Zealand poultry exports have been put on hold until the country is free of bird flu and security has been placed at the gates around the infected properties.
A 10km buffer zone had been placed around the farm, along with restrictions to prevent the movement of animals, equipment and feed.
The poultry will be taken care of by CO2 containerised gas, which farms regularly use to euthanise chickens and is an existing industry standard practice, however, the method of disposal is still to be announced.
Biosecurity New Zealand said there are no human health or food safety concerns. It added it was safe to consume thoroughly cooked egg and poultry products.
