For Brian Kreher, a fourth-generation farmer in the small town of Clarence, New York, the latest outbreak of bird flu has meant many sleepless nights. He considers his 18-acre farm one of the lucky ones. With extensive safety precautions, he hasn't lost any birds to the virus, which has ravaged poultry farms across the US.

Initial tests for avian influenza, or bird flu, on a sample from a north Monaghan poultry farm have come back negative.

A highly pathogenic strain of bird flu has been detected at a third property in Victoria's north. Authorities said the H7N8 strain had been detected at the farm in Euroa, which was located near two other infected properties.