Victoria poultry farms locked down over bird flu fears

Victorian poultry farms are being plunged into lockdown as new cases of bird flu continue to climb across Australia. The "proactive, precautionary measure" forcing producers to keep poultry temporarily housed in higher-risk areas comes as a new detection was discovered in the Melbourne suburb of Clyde. The decision was made after a meeting with industry representatives who voiced support, Victorian Agriculture Minister Michaela Settle said on Friday. Bird flu has not been detected in poultry or in the agricultural production systems, although 175 confirmed or presumed positive detections have been made among other birds in Australia. There are 47 positive cases of bird flu in Victoria, with new detections at Yambuk, Apollo Bay and Clyde. Poultry owners with 50 or more birds in metropolitan Melbourne, coastal areas and some neighbouring areas must house their birds to reduce contact with wild birds for an initial 14-day period.