The poultry indisytry is relieved that two Northland poultry farms have been cleared of Infectious Bursal Disease, or IBD.
Along with Avian Flu and Newcastle Disease, IBD is a disease that chicken farmers most fear.
But the industry is concerned about the time it has taken to clear the farms and the costs of keeping them isolated for three months while tests were carried out.
The farms were placed under movement control after routine blood tests showed apparent antibodies.
The poultry industry had set up a surveillance programme since an outbreak of IBD was eradicated more than five years ago.
Michael Brooks of the Poultry Industry Association says the investigation took an extra month because the first virus isolation test failed and had to be repeated. He says it has been costly for the two farmers and the industry.
Brooks says the poultry industry still wants to know what caused the first false blood test results which led to the investigation.
Infectious bursal disease carries no human health risk but attacks the immune system of young birds and can kill them.
