81859 (2024). Hon Jo Luxton to the Minister for Biosecurity

Written Question

Published date: 21 Jan 2025

Metadata

Document type:	Written Question
Parliament number:	54
Question number:	81859 (2024)
Question asked:	15 Dec 2024
Member asking:	Hon Jo Luxton
Portfolio:	Minister for Biosecurity
Minister replying:	Hon Andrew Hoggard
Answer received:	23 Dec 2024
Status:	Question Answered
Reply type:	Reply
Document ID:	WQ_81859_2024
Document guid:	5d67248f-4936-48a7-b6b4-82855ab83145

81859 (2024). Hon Jo Luxton to the Minister for Biosecurity: Are there plans in place to develop a rapid molecular test, or acquire these for H5N1?

Hon Andrew Hoggard: There are many sub-varieties of H5N1 and so no rapid molecular test has been developed to cover all possible strains that might arrive in New Zealand. New Zealand has tests for Influenza including H5 and H7, all of which will be used to identify any new avian influenza incursions including H5N1 if it arrives here.