Bird Flu Outbreaks in Australia: A Dutch Laser Bird Deterrent Comes to Rescue

Australia, July 9, 2024 – Australia is experiencing significant avian influenza outbreaks, with 1.8 million chickens across 11 farms, representing 7% of the national egg-laying population, affected in just 5 weeks. This has prompted the implementation of strict biosecurity measures. To support these efforts, a Dutch laser bird deterrent studied by Wageningen University has proven highly effective in reducing wild bird presence at poultry farms, thus lowering the risk of disease spread.

Australia is currently facing outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) across several regions, including Victoria, New South Wales, and the Australian Capital Territory. The Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry is actively coordinating efforts to manage these outbreaks and prevent further spread.

In Victoria, the H7N3 HPAI strain was first detected on May 22, 2024, at a poultry farm in the Golden Plains Shire, with six other farms subsequently affected. Additionally, a separate H7N9 HPAI strain was identified at a farm in the Shire of Corangamite. In NSW, the H7N8 strain has led to two outbreaks in the Hawkesbury district, while the same strain was confirmed in the ACT linked to an NSW property.

All infected premises have been depopulated, and strict movement restrictions are in place, creating Restricted Areas and broader Control Areas around infected properties to limit the movement of poultry, birds, and related products.

The government emphasizes the importance of adhering to stringent biosecurity practices and poultry owners are advised to maintain clean facilities, prevent contact with wild birds, and ensure proper handling and cooking of poultry products. These measures are essential to manage and mitigate the impact of the outbreaks.

In addition to these traditional biosecurity measures, an innovative tool from the Netherlands is being recommended to enhance biosafety on poultry farms. The AVIX Autonomic laser bird deterrents, developed by the Dutch company Bird Control Group companies, emit laser beams that create a hostile environment for wild birds, effectively deterring them from entering poultry areas and reducing the risk of avian influenza transmission. These deterrents are non-lethal, humane, and require minimal maintenance, making them a valuable addition to existing biosecurity protocols.

A recent research study conducted at Wageningen University investigated whether the Bird Control Group laser system could be a successful biosecurity measure to prevent avian influenza viruses from spreading from wild birds to domestic animals. The results were promising, indicating an overall 98.2% efficacy in reducing the rate of wild birds visiting the farm.

The AVIX Autonomic laser system continuously moves a laser beam that leverages a bird’s innate fight or flight response to scare away both pests and migratory birds. As a result, the area looks uninhabitable, pushing the birds elsewhere and reducing contamination and the risk of avian flu transmission across poultry farms.

The AVIX Autonomic laser is available in Australia through a network of local partners and resellers like Bird Beam Laser. Visit www.birdcontrolgroup.com for more information.