Australian biosecurity officials say they are closely monitoring a new bird flu outbreak in China, but remain alert and not alarmed.
The new H7N9 strain of avian influenza has already killed 17 people in China, but Biosecurity Australia says the risk of the virus coming to Australia is low.
The nation's chief vet, Dr Mark Schipp, says it's a timely reminder for Australian chicken, duck and turkey producers to ensure they've got good biosecurity practices in place.
But he's confident that routine monitoring and testing programs already in place, particularly across northern Australia, will detect the virus if it does move south.
"If the virus was present in 1 per cent of birds coming into Australia, then we would pick it up through the existing surveillance program," he said.
"We believe we have adequate surveillance in place in terms of that wild bird surveillance program.
"If the situation changes we will be reviewing that, in terms of human surveillance or surveillance within domestic poultry populations."
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-04-23/bird-flu-preparations/4645454?
