News item | 05-12-2025 | 20:50
Bird flu has been diagnosed at a meat duck farm in Ermelo, Gelderland province. To prevent the virus from spreading, the approximately 6,500 ducks are being culled by the Dutch Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority (NVWA).
There are no other poultry farms in the 1-kilometer zone around this newly infected location. There are 4 companies in the 3-kilometer zone that are screened by the NVWA. There are 28 companies in the 10-kilometer zone. A number of these companies are also in the restriction zone around the infections in Terschuur on November 17 and November 23, Zeewolde on November 30, Hierden on December 1 and Nijkerk on December 2.
Transport ban
A transport ban applies immediately in the entire 10-kilometer zone. This means that no birds, hatching eggs and/or eggs for consumption may be transported from locations with birds in this zone. There is also a ban on the disposal of bird manure and used litter. These measures are necessary to prevent spread to other parts of the country. Animals other than birds and their products may be transported to and from locations with birds, provided this is done in accordance with the strict conditions of the hygiene protocol.
You can see where the 10-kilometer zone is located the animal disease viewer of the Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO).
National measures
Since October 16, 2025, there has been a national cage and shielding obligation in the Netherlands. The cage requirement applies to all commercially kept birds. The shielding obligation applies to non-commercially kept risk birds (for example chickens kept as a hobby).
Since November 26, 2025, the national ban on visiting bird roosts that are part of an establishment with commercially kept birds has been tightened. Visits to these establishments are only permitted if the visit is necessary for public health, animal health, animal welfare or the health of persons present in the stable.
The national exhibition ban has been tightened since December 3, 2025 to a ban on events (such as: exhibitions, competitions, annual fairs, markets, inspections or other temporary collections) where birds are brought together. This ban applies to risk birds and non-risk birds.
Tracing investigation
The NVWA carries out tracing research into risky contacts. This investigates whether products or poultry were transported to and from this location in the period prior to the report. If necessary, additional measures will be taken, such as additional sampling or blocking a risky contact company. These measures will be reported via an update in this press release and via the online channels of the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Food Security and Nature (LVVN).