WA’s top-ranking vet says its unlikely a devastating bird flu will impact egg customers locally, as Coles imposes a two-carton per customer restriction on stores in every other part of the country.
The limit on east-coast shoppers comes after the highly infectious H7N3 strain of bird flu was detected in chickens on five farms in Victoria.
Nearly 600,000 chickens have been euthanised in desperate bid to stop the spread.
But so far WA’s local supply of eggs has not been impacted.
A Coles spokesperson said the company was working closely with its suppliers outside of WA to ensure eggs “remain viable” for customers amid the temporary limit and that the supermarket giant was providing support to the industry in response to the flu outbreak.
It is understood Aldi and Woolworths have no imminent plans to limit egg purchases.
Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development chief veterinary officer, Dr Michelle Rodan, said it was “unlikely” retailers in WA would be affected because most sourced their eggs from local producers.
“Avian influenza virus is mostly spread by wild birds, particularly ducks, contaminating food or water supplies on poultry properties,” Dr Rodan said.
“The recent high pathogenic Avian Influenza outbreak in Victoria is likely to have come from wild birds in Victoria.”
Dr Rodan said DPIRD worked with the WA industry and commercial poultry producers to ensure biosecurity measures reduced the likelihood of the avian flu being introduced to poultry properties.
“This includes segregating commercial birds from wild birds and ensuring feed and water is managed to ensure this segregation is robust,” he said.
“DPIRD engages with producers to increase awareness of clinical signs of avian influenza to aid early detection and develop strategies and plans to respond to an outbreak.”
To prevent an outbreak, unusual signs of disease or mass deaths in domesticated birds, wild birds or other wildlife should be reported to the Emergency Animal Disease Hotline on 1800 675 888.