Polynesia still spared from avian flu, but vigilance is required

Vaihere Mollard-Lehartel, a broiler farmer in Papara, has just received 1,200 chicks, all in good health. Within 8 to 9 weeks, they will be slaughtered and sold in the fresh produce section of some stores in Tahiti. And to protect her livestock from any viral risk, she takes endless precautions.

Like all other poultry breeders, Vaihere sources exclusively from New Zealand. “For the moment they are unharmed, so knock on wood it has to continue, and New Zealand has strict control over bird flu…It’s reassuring but at the same time Hawaii is not not far away we still worry because it can happen through birds, people”, sasks the breeder.

The H5N1 bird flu virus is now present in Australia and Hawaii. Although the Pacific region was previously protected, the threat is taken very seriously by the health authorities. At the first contamination, the entire livestock must be slaughtered… A disaster for the egg and meat industry.
The virus is transmitted through the airways of live poultry and untreated foodstuffs.
Biosecurity controls have been stepped up, particularly on raw meat, homemade foie gras, feather costumes, eggs and poultry products.

Upon arrival of a flight, food without a health certificate or original label carried by passengers is confiscated before being destroyed. “There is avian flu everywhere in Asia, in Europe, in mainland France and in the United States. Recently it has just arrived in Hawaii so we are strengthening controls. For the moment in the Pacific we are relatively privileged, “Australia currently has a few outbreaks but all the other islands in the region including New Zealand are still free like us, so we are trying to preserve this health status”explain Aurélie Brioudes, veterinarian and head of the zoosanitary unit in the biosecurity department.

Travelers must therefore remain vigilant and report their food upon arrival for verification.
For their part, poultry breeders must declare their sick animals or any abnormally high mortality.

Lucile Guichet’s report:

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