Photo: Unsplash
Most of the 160,000 hens infected with bird flu on an Otago farm have now been culled.
On Sunday night, the Ministry for Primary Industries confirmed a fourth shed was infected with the highly pathogenic H7N6 virus, discovered on Mainland Poultry's Hillgrove farm over a week ago.
The virus is yet to be found beyond the single Hillgrove farm, with the ministry recently ruling out the virus as the cause of illness at a small, unconnected farm, south of Dunedin.
Biosecurity New Zealand deputy director-general Stuart Anderson said although the cause of the illness at the second farm was still unknown, it was believed to be an existing disease among New Zealand birds.
Brid flu confirmed in fourth shed at Mainland Poultry's Hillgrove farm in Otago
"We are working with the farmer and their vet to identify the cause ... as is normal in biosecurity responses, we always investigate where unusual or unexplained illness is identified."
The Poultry Industry Association and the Egg Producers Federation executive director Michael Brooks said while results at the second farm were a relief, any disease was worrying and he urged farmers to take advantage of free biosecurity audits.
Chickens at Hillgrove Egg Farm near Moeraki. Photo: ODT / STEPHEN JAQUIERY
The Egg Producers Federation had been pushing enhanced biosecurity measures - including free audits - in recent years, and a lot of work had gone into helping farmers understand the potential risks of disease outbreak, he said.
Although demand for audits had increased since the discovery of bird flu, he wanted to see more requests.
Brooks said New Zealand had long been free from major diseases such as HPAI, Newcastle disease, and infectious bursal disease. and had a lot of export clout as a result.
"It's an industry that has worked hard, prior to this happening, to have good biosecurity.
"This freedom ... is something we've guarded jealously and hopefully once this is eradicated from this farm, we can go back to a scenario where we don't have HPAI in New Zealand."
Last week, Agriculture Minister Todd McClay said New Zealand had reached agreement with Australia to restart the export of some chicken products.
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