Avian Influenza Outbreak Hits Fifth Poultry Farm in Victoria

A highly pathogenic strain of avian influenza has been detected at a fifth poultry farm near Melbourne, Victoria's state government announced. The new outbreak is close to three farms already affected by the H5N3 strain. Separately, another Victorian farm has encountered the H7N9 strain. Neither is related to the globally spread H5N1 strain.

A fifth poultry farm near Melbourne has been infected with a highly pathogenic strain of avian influenza, the government of Australia's Victoria state said on Wednesday.

The farm is close to three others where an H5N3 strain of the flu had already spread and authorities said the latest detection was not unexpected.

Another farm in Victoria has hosted an outbreak of a different H7N9 strain of the virus. Neither strain is the same as the H5N1 type that has spread globally through bird and mammal populations and even into humans.