This policy outlines how Highly Pathogenic Avian influenza (HPAI) H7N7 will be eradicated in the 2012 outbreak at Maitland (Australia). The policy aims to achieve eradication in the shortest possible time, while limiting the risk of human infection and minimising negative impacts on industry and the community.

1. Ref: INT12/94582
Highly Pathogenic Avian influenza (H7N7) Maitland-
control and eradication
NUMBER TI-O-139 VERSION 1
AUTHORISED BY CHIEF VETERINARY OFFICER OF NSW AUTHORISED DATE 22/11/2012
ISSUED BY Primary Industries, Biosecurity NSW EFFECTIVE DATE 22/11/2012
Purpose
This policy outlines how Highly Pathogenic Avian influenza (HPAI) H7N7 will be eradicated in the 2012
outbreak at Maitland. The policy aims to achieve eradication in the shortest possible time, while limiting
the risk of human infection and minimising negative impacts on industry and the community.
Background
Avian influenza is an emergency animal disease under the Animal Diseases and Animal Pest
(Emergency Outbreaks) Act 1991 (‘the Act’) and is notifiable under the Stock Diseases Act 1923 and
ADAPEO. The legal authority to deal with Avian influenza is primarily vested in the Act and subordinate
legislation
Highly Pathogenic Avian influenza H7 is a Category 2 Emergency Animal Disease (EAD) under the
Government and Livestock Industry Cost Sharing Deed In Respect of Emergency Animal Disease
Responses (EAD Response Agreement). Category 2 EADs are those for which costs will be shared
80% by government and 20% by industry.
This response policy reflects the early detection of the outbreak; the limited extent of the outbreak and
the relatively isolated location of affected places. Virus virulence factors and the likelihood that wild
birds are involved have also been taken into consideration.
AUSVETPLAN recommends that due to the effectiveness of stamping out and the risk to human health,
the default policy for an outbreak is to control and eradicate the disease through stamping out to re-
establish the HPAI-free status of Australia as quickly as possible. AUSVETPLAN further states that
stamping out needs to be accompanied by appropriate quarantine and control measures,
decontamination of infectious material on Infected Places, targeted tracing and surveillance, and
enhanced biosecurity by all levels of the poultry production and processing industries, and by zoos and
cage bird owners.
Scope
This policy applies in relation to suspected or confirmed cases of infection with avian influenza in
animals that are not known to be endemically affected (ie not wild birds).
This policy applies to:
1. all staff of the NSW Department of Trade and Investment (‘the Department’) including staff of
the NSW Department of Primary Industries (DPI);
2. all staff of Livestock Health and Pest Authorities (LHPA) (when signed as a Written Instrument);
and
3. any contractors, subcontractors or other persons involved in avian influenza response activities
who are engaged by or acting under the direction of the Department or a LHPA.
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2. Warning
HPAI can cause disease in humans. A person infected with AI may have no symptoms, mild upper
respiratory symptoms, or symptoms typical of influenza (fever, cough, fatigue, myalgia, sore throat,
shortness of breath, runny nose, headache). The most common presentation of humans infected with
H7 strains is conjunctivitis.
Policy
1. NSW Health will be notified as soon as possible following confirmation of AI and they will be
provided with the contact details of any people who have been exposed to infected birds.
2. The Food Authority will be notified as soon as possible following confirmation of AI and provided
with the identity of the infected premises.
3. Staff engaged in avian influenza response activities must comply with their respective
organisation’s WHS policy.
4. Without limitation to the WHS obligations of all such persons engaged in avian influenza response
activities, this policy must be utilised at any place so that any diagnosed or suspected case of avian
influenza in an animal is effectively contained in a manner that enables the department, the LHPAs
and their employees to carry out effective avian influenza response activities whilst meeting their
respective obligations for WHS. In particular, the site supervisor and/or the local coordinator must
ensure that:
all departmental and LHPA staff under their direction or control who are engaged to undertake
avian influenza response activities
any contractors engaged by or acting under the direction of the department or the LHPAs,
any persons lawfully permitted by an Inspector to move into or out of, or move within an Infected
Place (IP) (including any owner or occupier and any employee or contractor of the owner or
occupier) and
any persons to whom the department or the LHPAs supply substances and equipment in
connection with avian influenza activities (such as PPE )
are made aware of and understand the need to comply with this policy so as to ensure their safety
and the safety of others.
5. Staff may elect not to undertake field work with animals known or suspected to be infected with
avian influenza.
6. Personnel who have contact with infected or suspected infected poultry, poultry products, places
and other things during avian influenza response activities must wear appropriate Personal
Protective Equipment (PPE) and need to be vaccinated with the current (human) influenza vaccine
to reduce the risk of re-assortment of avian and human influenza virus strains that could result in a
new human pandemic influenza strain.
7. The response will comply with AUSVETPLAN Disease Strategy Avian influenza Version 3.4.2011,
apart from variations as agreed by the Consultative Committee on Emergency Animal Diseases
(CCEAD).
8. Stamping out will be undertaken on all Infected Places (IP) using methods described in the
Destruction of Animals Manual unless a risk assessment determines there is a low risk of infection
from particular birds. If rare poultry, cage or zoo birds are infected, then modified stamping out or
isolation strategies may be used if approved by CCEAD.
9. Pre-emptive slaughter may occur on other places depending on information derived from tracing,
surveillance and study of the behaviour of the disease.
10. The IP will be quarantined and an Infected Place Order issued.
11. A Restricted Area (RA) Order will declare a RA. The RA Order will identify the animals, animal
products, fodder, fittings, soil and other things that are affected by the declaration. Movement
controls will then be implemented in relation to those things. An Area Restriction Order will require
that persons who own or are in control of birds must make the birds available to NSW DPI for
testing. It will also require persons who have been in contact with certain birds and bird products in
the RA to disinfect prior to moving within or out of the RA.
12. A Control Area (CA) Order will declare a CA around the RA. The size of the CA will be determined
by a risk assessment. Some movement restrictions and enhanced biosecurity measures will be
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3. 13. Tracing and surveillance will be undertaken to determine the source and extent of infection and to
establish Proof of Freedom (POF) from disease.
14. Sanitary disposal of contaminated material such as dead birds, eggs, litter, manure, fresh or frozen
carcasses, fodder and fittings that cannot be effectively treated will follow the AUSVETPLAN
Disposal Manual guidelines.
15. Disinfection of the infected site will follow the guidelines in the AUSVETPLAN Decontamination
Manual.
16. Vaccination may be considered if an outbreak of HPAI is likely to spread widely or appears likely to
become endemic.
17. The risk of spread of infection on the IP from wild birds, rats, mice and flying insects should be
assessed and treated where appropriate.
18. Repopulation cannot take place until the outbreak has been brought under control in the area and
at least 21 days has passed since:
a. the destruction of the last poultry bird on the IP, and
b. the completion of satisfactory cleaning and disinfection on the IP.
Procedures
OH&S for field operations associated with zoonotic AI and like diseases including Hendra virus
Reporting injuries and fatalities
Use of PPE
AUSVETPLAN Destruction of Animals Manual
AUSVETPLAN Disposal Manual
AUSVETPLAN Decontamination Manual
Proc 2012-15: Avian influenza – Maitland – November 2012- Movement Controls
Proc 2012-xx Avian influenza – Maitland – November 2012 – Surveillance procedures
Roles and responsibilities
Chief Veterinary Officer:
1. The Chief Veterinary Officer (CVO) is responsible for developing an Emergency Animal Disease
Response Plan (EADRP) for the particular outbreak.
2. Overall operational management of the incident rests with the CVO, with oversight by the
Consultative Committee on Emergency Animal Diseases (CCEAD).
3. CVO will implement disease control measures as agreed in the EADRP and in accordance with
relevant legislation.
Delegations
Delegations made under the Animal Diseases and Animal Pests (Emergency Outbreaks) Act 1991
are available at http://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0011/358769/Mins-Delegations-
under-Animal-Diseases-Act-1991.pdf
Legislation
Animal Diseases and Animal Pests (Emergency Outbreaks) Act 1991
Animal Diseases and Animal Pests (Emergency Outbreaks) Regulation 2012
Related policies
Emergency management - Policies
Other related documents
AUSVETPLAN, Disease Strategy Avian influenza Version 3.4, 2011
Definitions
The Act means the Animal Diseases and Animal Pest (Emergency Outbreaks) Act 1991
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Control Area means any premises, place or area within New South Wales declared to be a control
area under section 21 of the Act on account of avian influenza
Infected Place means any premises, place or area within New South Wales declared to be an
infected place under section 10 of the Act on account of avian influenza.
Restricted Area means any premises, place or area within New South Wales declared to be a
restricted area under section 15 of the Act on account of avian influenza
Stamping out means the process of euthanasing of infected animals and those suspected of being
infected on the Infected Place and where appropriate animals in a restricted area or a control area
if it is reasonably necessary to do so to prevent the spread of avian influenza.
Superseded documents
Nil
Review date
20/11/2013
Contact
DPI Animal Biosecurity (02) 6391 3412

5. WRITTEN
INSTRUMENT
BIOSECURITY DOCUMENT: POL TI-O-139 SC Ref: - / - / WI
TRIM Ref: INT12/94582 DV Ref: - / - / -
Highly Pathogenic Avian influenza (H7N7) Maitland- control and
eradication
The attached document is a WRITTEN INSTRUMENT issued with the concurrence of the Director-
General of the Department of Primary Industries under Clause 8.3 of the Memorandum of
Understanding between the Director-General of the Department of Primary Industries and the Livestock
Health and Pest Authorities State Management Council.
APPROVED APPROVED
IAN ROTH CVO FOR
B M CHRISTIE for R F SHELDRAKE
DIRECTOR-GENERAL
DEPARTMENT OF PRIMARY
INDUSTRIES
TIM JOHNSTON
A/CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
STATE MANAGEMENT COUNCIL
LIVESTOCK HEALTH AND PEST AUTHORITIES
Date: 22.11.2012 Date: 22.11.2012