9929 (2024). Hon Dr Ayesha Verrall to the Minister of Health

9929 (2024). Hon Dr Ayesha Verrall to the Minister of Health: What are the government's contingency plans, if any, for responding to a potential outbreak of H5N1 avian influenza in New Zealand, including strategies for rapid detection and containment?

Hon Dr Shane Reti: I advised that the operational response (including rapid detection and containment) to a human outbreak of H5N1 avian influenza will be managed by the National Public Health Service in Health New Zealand. The New Zealand Influenza Pandemic Plan and the Communicable Disease Manual contains the Government's plans for this scenario, and are both being updated in light of the risk of an avian influenza outbreak.