AN outbreak of bird flu in the NSW lower Hunter region has been eradicated after authorities culled 50,000 chickens at an egg farm.
Tests from 12 nearby properties confirmed the virus hadn''t spread, but the Maitland facility would remain quarantined while disinfection and surveillance were completed, The NSW Department of Primary Industries (DPI) said.
The virus detected at the Maitland facility was not the H5N1 strain that can fatally infect humans.
But the particular type of virus detected, H7, caused deaths in birds and could have a devastating impact on poultry and egg producers, a DPI spokesman told AAP.
Australian Egg Corporation director James Kellaway praised the DPI for its quick response to the outbreak, which was detected on November 15.
"Avian influenza is one of the biggest potential threats to the supply of affordable and nutritious eggs to all Australians," Mr Kellaway said.