09 September 2026

Poultry fear as bird flu reaches region – The Weekly Advertiser

By Lauren Henry

A confirmed case of HPAI bird flu has been detected in Edenhope.

Agriculture Victoria confirmed the case was detected in a bird categorised as a ‘gull, tern and noddy’, and was investigated on August 24.

It is the first confirmed case of HPAI  avian influenza in the Wimmera.

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There have been at least two other reports of bird flu in Edenhope, and several other reports of suspected cases to birds in most towns – Horsham, Nhill, Dimboola, Warracknabeal, Jeparit, Hopetoun, Beulah, Murtoa, Goroke, Stawell, and Halls Gap.

There have been at least 35 confirmed cases of bird flu in West Wimmera’s neighbouring shire of Glenelg, but mostly along the coast.

There has also been one confirmed case in Avoca, in the Pyrenees Shire, and at Hamilton, in the Southern Grampians Shire.

Member for Lowan and shadow agriculture minister Emma Kealy said Nelson residents had reported hundreds of dead birds accumulating around the Glenelg River Estuary, an internationally significant wetland.

Ms Kealy said the lack of action on the 400 or more carcasses exposed serious questions about Victoria’s response to the growing H5 bird flu threat, especially given that three kilometres away from Nelson, across the South Australian border, crews were actively collecting and disposing of dead birds and humanely euthanising sick birds where appropriate.

The State Government has acknowledged carcass removal will not occur everywhere, prioritising areas of high visitation and public amenity, and has introduced a statewide control order authorising public land managers to move and dispose of wildlife that have died from H5 bird flu.

The Federal Government also announced an additional $125-million for the national H5 response, with states and territories required to match funding to access it.

“This is not the time for Victoria to be slow or complacent,” Ms Kealy said.

“We need boots on the ground, clear advice for communities, appropriate surveillance and testing, and properly resourced land managers able to respond where carcass removal is required.

“Victoria must also remain absolutely focused on protecting our poultry sector. H5 has not been detected in Victorian poultry and keeping it out of farms must be one of the government’s highest biosecurity priorities.

“An outbreak in commercial poultry could have devastating consequences for farmers, regional jobs, animal welfare and food production.”

Ms Kealy said immediate action must be taken to protect the poultry industry and regional communities after a fox was Victoria’s first recorded case of H5 bird flu found in a mammal.

Authorities are also investigating a suspected case in a dolphin.

“This outbreak is changing, and Victoria’s response needs to stay ahead of it,” Ms Kealy said.

“The detection of H5 bird flu in a mammal is another warning that we need the strongest possible surveillance, biosecurity and response measures in place.

“Victoria has a significant poultry and egg industry supporting regional jobs, businesses and our food supply. 

“We need to do everything possible to keep this disease out of commercial farms.”

Ms Kealy said poultry producers had raised concerns about compliance with measures designed to protect domestic flocks.

“Biosecurity only works when everyone does their part,” she said.

“Labor needs to be absolutely clear about how its poultry housing and biosecurity requirements are being monitored and enforced, and whether Agriculture Victoria and the Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action has the people and resources it needs as this outbreak develops.

“This isn’t about creating unnecessary alarm. It is about recognising the risk early and acting before we have an outbreak in a commercial poultry operation.

“Once a disease gets through the farm gate, the consequences can be devastating for farmers, animals, regional jobs and food production.”

Agriculture Victoria advise if people see sick or dead birds, they avoid contact with them, record what they see and where, and report it to the 24-hour Emergency Animal Disease Hotline on 1800 675 888, or report online at forms.bio.vic.gov.au/wildlife-influenza-investigation.