Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) vaccine and preparedness

Question

1. Over the last few years, we have seen Australia impacted by Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) resulting in birds being destroyed. What work and funding is the government providing in making a HPAI vaccine possible for the Australian poultry industries? 2. How long would the approval process take through APVMA? 3. What is the current level of preparedness for a potential outbreak of HPAI H5N1 on mainland Australia, including surveillance activities for wild birds, commercial poultry, and backyard flocks, and how has this changed over the last 12 months? 4. Given the continued spread of HPAI internationally, what additional border biosecurity measures have been implemented to reduce the risk of HPAI entering Australia? (N.B. through passengers - international guests should not visit an egg farm within 7 days of arrival into Australia) 5. In the event of an HPAI detection of H5N1 in mainland Australia, what resourcing constraints are expected if there are outbreaks in multiple states and how is this being addressed? 6. When were the last national simulation or emergency response exercise conducted for HPAI and reviews on HPAI responses, which agencies and industries participated, and what key gaps or lessons were identified and acted upon?

Answer

Please see PDF attachment.

Documents

• Question with answer (PDF) (opens in a new tab)
• SQ26-000480.pdf (opens in a new tab)