Confirmed H5N1 Detection in New Zealand: Why Biosecurity Matters More Than Ever

The recent confirmation of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (H5N1) in New Zealand serves as an important reminder of the critical role effective biosecurity plays in protecting animal health.

Whether you’re a commercial poultry producer, lifestyle block owner, veterinary clinic or anyone working closely with animals, now is the time to review cleaning and disinfection protocols.

While no disinfectant can replace good biosecurity practices, choosing a disinfectant with proven efficacy against H5N1 provides an additional layer of protection.

What is H5N1?

Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI), commonly known as bird flu, is a contagious viral disease affecting birds. Certain strains, including H5N1, can spread rapidly through poultry populations, making early detection and strong biosecurity measures essential to limiting transmission.

The Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) has advised animal owners and industry participants to remain vigilant and follow recommended biosecurity practices.

The Role of Effective Disinfection

Cleaning removes dirt and organic material.

Disinfection then destroys disease-causing organisms that may remain on surfaces, equipment, footwear and vehicles.

Using a disinfectant with demonstrated activity against H5N1 helps reduce the risk of virus spread when combined with good hygiene, movement controls and other biosecurity measures.

SteriGENE Has Demonstrated Efficacy Against H5N1

SteriGENE has been independently evaluated against the H5N1 Avian Influenza virus.

Testing conducted by the Harbin Veterinary Research Institute, a State Bird Flu Reference Laboratory under the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, demonstrated:

100% elimination of H5N1 after a 10-minute contact time at dilutions from 1:50 to 1:400
99.99% reduction at a dilution of 1:800

While these results demonstrate SteriGENE’s effectiveness against H5N1, EA Group recommends using SteriGENE according to the label directions (1:100 dilution) to ensure effective control across the wide range of bacteria, viruses and fungi the product is designed to eliminate.

Biosecurity is About Consistency

No single product can eliminate disease risk on its own.

Effective biosecurity relies on a combination of:

Cleaning before disinfecting
Using the correct disinfectant dilution
Allowing sufficient contact time
Maintaining routine cleaning schedules
Limiting unnecessary movement between properties
Following MPI biosecurity guidance

When these measures work together, the risk of disease transmission can be significantly reduced.

Need Advice?

If you’d like guidance on implementing effective biosecurity protocols or selecting the right disinfectant for your operation, our technical team is here to help.

Contact EA Group today to discuss how SteriGENE can support your biosecurity programme.