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Bird Flu Cancels Melbourne Royal Poultry Show
29 Sep
Summary
- Melbourne Royal Show's poultry events cancelled due to H5N1 bird flu.
- The cancellation impacts seasoned competitors and young enthusiasts alike.
- No H5N1 detections in Australian poultry, but wild birds show cases.
The Melbourne Royal Show's anticipated poultry competitions and exhibitions for 2026 have been cancelled following a significant increase in H5N1 bird flu cases around Australia. Organisers made the difficult decision to cancel the events to safeguard the health of all birds.
This cancellation has deeply affected many, including 99-year-old Alf Woods, a competitor since 1939, and his 10-year-old great-grandson Blair, who was eager to showcase his Pekin bantams. Woods expressed understanding, noting the potential devastation if the virus were to spread to the showgrounds.
Despite the current outbreak, there have been no reported detections of H5N1 bird flu in poultry within Australia. However, the virus has been found in 220 non-poultry birds across 32 local government areas in Victoria.
The Victorian government has implemented poultry housing requirements for flocks of 50 or more in specific areas and recommends biosecurity measures for all poultry owners to prevent contact with wild birds.
