June 22 (Reuters) – Inghams Group on Monday implemented a complete lockdown across all of its Western Australian farms and processing operations after Australia reported a second case of the highly pathogenic H5N1 bird flu.
Here are some details:
• Australia reported a second case of H5N1 bird flu in Esperance, Western Australia, as a northern giant petrel, a migratory sea bird, on a remote beach tested positive for bird flu, after a brown skua case on Saturday
• These are the first reported cases of the flu on mainland Australia
• The Australian government has vowed to rein in the spread of the virus
• Inghams’ breeder farms and grower networks are located in the Muchea, Gingin and Mogumber regions, north of Perth, nearly 690–770 kilometres from Esperance
• No cases have been detected in the company’s commercial poultry, and it continues to distribute to the Australian market
• The company has moved to a “heightened state of biosecurity vigilance” to mitigate any potential risks
• Inghams is also seeking a housing order from the Australian Government’s Chief Veterinary Officer to allow its Western Australian free-range poultry to be kept indoors
• Shares of the company slumped as much as 13.8% to A$1.810, in their worst session since February 20, and hit their lowest in more than a month
(Reporting by Keshav Singh Chundawat in Bengaluru; Editing by Mrigank Dhaniwala)
