Australia kills 24,000 ducks to stop bird flu outbreak

Nearly 24,000 ducks have been culled in Australia after testing positive for a low pathogenic strain of the bird flu virus, prompting an exports ban in some Asian countries including Japan.

Two farms in Victoria state were linked to the outbreak of the strain of avian influenza, which does not pose the same health risk as the deadly H5N1 strain that has affected chicken and duck population in several countries across Asia over the recent years.

Following the outbreak, Japan has imposed a ban on all imports from across Australia, while Vietnam, Singapore, and Hong Kong have placed bans on all poultry products from Victoria.

Other countries, such as South Africa, are demanding a certification confirming that the poultry imports have not been sourced from 20km within the quarantined sites.

According to the Australian Chicken Meat Foundation, the ban imposed by Japan and Hong Kong will have the greatest impact on the Australian poultry industry.

The Australian Chicken Meat Foundation executive director, Andreas Dubs, said that the strain posed a potential risk only to chickens and not to public health.

Dubs said that the partial bans by Japan, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Singapore and Vietnam were "over-reactions", given the limited outbreak of the virus.

Victoria’s deputy premier Peter Ryan said the Australian poultry market had a strong reputation and the outbreak would not have a long-term impact.

Australia exports 4% of its poultry products, including eggs, chicken feed, and other products valued at A$40m ($38m) a year, to nearly 60 countries, with Hong Kong being its biggest buyer.

In 2010, Australia exported 1.2t of poultry and 0.7t of eggs to Japan.