Agriculture Victoria has been responding to several detections of avian influenza across the state, including in Golden Plains Shire.
While there have been no new detections since late August, movement controls continue to apply within the Restricted Area and Control Area to limit the spread of the disease.
At 11.59 pm on Monday 19 October, 2020 the poultry housing order for the Restricted Area of Golden Plains Shire ended and the Control Area boundary reduced (see map below); however, the Restricted Area boundary remains in place to ensure a staged progression toward eradication of this outbreak.
The strains of avian influenza in this incident are not a risk to the public. It rarely affects humans unless there is direct and close contact with sick birds. There are no food safety issues identified; properly cooked chicken meat and eggs are safe to eat.
Agriculture Victoria has been working to control and eradicate the outbreak and undertake the steps required to prove Victoria is free from the disease. This includes extensive surveillance activities in each Restricted and Control Area and across the state to establish the virus is no longer present on the farms or in surrounding areas.
Movement controls will remain in place until we are confident the disease has been eradicated and business can return to normal.
All poultry and captive bird owners should continue to follow good biosecurity practices in order to prevent a recurrence of the disease. Poultry owners are requested to continue monitoring their birds for signs of sickness and disease. More information can be found on the Agriculture Victoria website.
Restricted and Control Area Orders and movement permits
Restricted Areas and Control Areas remain in place in the Golden Plains Shire near Lethbridge, to stop further spread of avian influenza.
A permit is required to move poultry, poultry products, equipment or vehicles involved in poultry production into, out of or within these Restricted Areas and Control Areas.
A permit is required for buying, selling or moving eggs, manure and chickens, whether on the side of the road, from your property, your local store, social media or at markets. It is illegal to move these products without a permit.
Apply for a movement permit online and an Agriculture Victoria staff member will contact you.
Please see the relevant map and contact Agriculture Victoria’s Customer Contact Centre on (03) 4334 2715 (Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm) for advice on a permit. Permits will be processed during business hours.
