News item | 20-10-2022 | 09:12
In Heythuysen (municipality of Leudal, province of Limburg) bird flu was diagnosed on a laying poultry farm. To prevent the virus from spreading, the approximately 300,000 chickens at the location are culled by the Dutch Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority (NVWA).
There are no other poultry farms within a 1 kilometer zone. Within 3 kilometres, there are 5 other poultry farms. These are screened for bird flu and intensively monitored over the next 14 days for symptoms that may indicate bird flu. There are 128 other poultry farms in the 10 kilometer zone. The transport ban applies immediately in this area.
Transport ban
A transport ban applies to all birds and hatching and table eggs from a location with birds. The ban also applies to bird manure and used litter, and to other animals and animal products from poultry farms.
In addition, rules apply to hunting in the 10 kilometer zone. For example, in this area it is prohibited to hunt ducks or to hunt in areas where this could disturb waterfowl. Where exactly this is can be seen on the animal disease viewer of the Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO).
Because the infected farm is located in a poultry dense area – and in order to minimize the risk of further spreading – there is also a transport ban for high-risk birds in the ‘region 19’ that corresponds to this (see the RVO animal disease viewer for the region in question). This measure was already in place in the area because of the contamination in nearby Ospel and is now in effect again for 14 days. There is an exception to this transport ban, subject to strict conditions, for transport to slaughter and the transport of day-old chicks.
National measures
There are national measures, such as a ban on visiting bird roosts of risk birds, unless absolutely necessary. Birds at risk include kept gallinaceous birds (such as chickens), waterfowl and ratites.
Since 5 October 2022, the national confinement and screening obligation has also been in force. The confinement obligation applies to commercially kept birds, these are brought indoors (except pheasants, ornamental waterfowl and ratites). A protection obligation applies to non-commercially kept high-risk birds (fowls/chickens, (ornamental) waterfowl and ratites), for example in zoos, petting zoos and owners of birds and chickens, and commercially kept pheasants, ornamental waterfowl and ratites. The NVWA website states: more information about the confinement and screening obligation. A ban has also been imposed on the display of poultry, waterfowl and ratites.
Traceability Investigation
As usual, in the context of the contamination at this location, a tracing investigation is carried out into high-risk contacts. If necessary, additional measures will be taken in response to the results of the investigation. Any additional measures will be reported via an update in this press release and via the online channels of the Ministry of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality (LNV).