What happens when you sound the alarm?

If multiple members of your flock come down with similar symptoms or die suddenly, it's vital to get urgent help, some of which may be available at no cost.

Dr Wendy McDonald heads Diagnostic and Surveillance Services for Biosecurity New Zealand, part of MPI. She says to contact your vet if you have unusual symptoms or high death rates in any livestock.

“The veterinarian will be able to advise if this could be an exotic or emerging disease that needs reporting to MPI through the exotic pest and disease hotline (0800 809966). In many cases, the vet would contact MPI. The hotline is available 24/7 and if you're in any doubt, you should call directly.”

They'll ask for your contact details and a simple description of the case. All details are kept confidential.

“No technical details are required at this stage,” says Dr McDonald. “The information will ensure the case is relayed to the right MPI team (as the hotline is also used for plant and aquatic surveillance)."

An investigating veterinarian will call you back. They may ask you to send photos or video, liaise with your vet to gather more information and samples, or even visit your block in person. MPI funds tests and autopsies if it initiates an exotic disease investigation.

If a high-risk disease is suspected, such as foot-and-mouth disease in ruminants or avian influenza in poultry, you'll be asked to:

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remain on the property until the cause is confirmed;

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limit or stop the movements of animals and gear on and off your property.

If exotic diseases are ruled out, MPI will usually work with you and your vet to try to determine the cause of illness.

If you don't qualify for an investigation but still want a diagnosis, several NZ laboratories test for avian diseases. They need sick live birds to examine if possible, blood and faecal samples, and/or dead bodies.

Your vet can usually submit samples for you. The lab will need to be told what to test for (eg, antibodies for a particular virus). Some tests are costly, but it may be worth it, especially if you have a large flock and/or rare, expensive breeds.