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Bird Flu Updates

Current updates

  • There are currently no cases of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1 in Taranaki.
  • H5N1 is a viral disease that primarily affects birds but also affects mammals.
  • SDC is following the following the lead of MPI and DOC by staying informed and vigilant about the threat of HPAI H5N1 strain.
  • SDC has plans in place for protecting our staff and contractors, if H5N1 does eventually reach Taranaki.
  • If you find three or more dead or sick birds, do not touch them. Call MPI’s pest and disease hotline on 0800 80 99 66.
  • Do not attempt to move dead or sick birds.
  • It’s rare for humans to be infected with H5N1. The disease is generally only found in people who have had a lot of close contact with infected birds or other infected animals.
  • H5N1 is very unlikely to spread from human to human. However, viruses can change over time so it’s important that we remain alert.

More information, including tips for bird owners, is available on MPI’s website.

Reporting bird flu

If you see 3 or more sick or dead wild birds in a group, avoid contact, record what you see and report it to the exotic pest and disease hotline on 0800 80 99 66 from anywhere in New Zealand. You can also report online.

If you report online, select the ‘dead or dying wild birds’ option from the dropdown list and then the type of bird you have found.

Report Online to MPI

Hunting and food safety

New Zealand Food Safety's advice on food safety for hunters applies but in particular:

  • don't harvest or handle wild birds (or their feathers) if they are obviously sick or found dead
  • wash and dry your hands after handling or dressing wild birds
  • don't eat, drink or put anything in your mouth while handling or cleaning raw harvested birds
  • don’t allow your dogs to collect sick birds or pick up birds that are already found dead
  • wash knives and other utensils, and scrub chopping boards between preparation of raw and cooked foods
  • keep raw meat and poultry covered and away from ready-to-eat food, fruit, and vegetables
  • cook birds well – an internal temperature of 75°C for at least 30 seconds, 70°C for 3 minutes or 65°C for 15 minutes is needed to kill bacteria and viruses
  • scrub and disinfect all boots and equipment between hunting sites
  • after each hunting trip, wash, or hose down any clothes that have been in direct contact with birds.

How to protect your birds

If you own poultry and other pet birds, they could be at risk from bird flu.

Take these steps to minimise the risk to your flock.

The most obvious sign of bird flu is the sudden or unexpected death of multiple birds or marine mammals in a group.

If you see three or more sick or dead wild birds, marine mammals or other wildlife, report it.

Call the exotic pest and disease hotline on 0800 80 99 66 or report online .

Yes. Even if H5N1 gets into local water fowl, our district are safe because H5N1 is killed by chlorine, and we chlorinate all of our drinking water.

People cannot get the H5 bird flu virus from eating food. There is no evidence that people can be infected through eating poultry or eggs, but it remains important to continue practicing good food handling and preparation techniques.

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