News item | 26-01-2023 | 8:00 pm
In Nijkerk (municipality of Nijkerk, province of Gelderland) bird flu has been diagnosed at a duck breeding company. To prevent the virus from spreading, the approximately 10,000 animals at the location will be culled by the Dutch Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority (NVWA).
There is one other poultry farm in the 1-kilometre zone where no animals are currently kept. There are six other poultry farms in the 3-kilometre zone. The infected farm is located on the edge of the poultry-dense area in the Gelderse Vallei. That is why these six companies will be intensively monitored by the Animal Health Service (GD) for the next 14 days for symptoms that may indicate bird flu.
There are 196 other poultry farms in the 10-kilometre zone. A transport ban applies immediately in this area.
Transport ban
A transport ban applies to all birds and hatching and consumption 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 may disturb waterfowl. Exactly where this is can be seen on the animal disease viewer of the Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO).
National measures
National measures apply, such as a ban on visiting bird habitats of birds at risk, unless this is absolutely necessary. Birds at risk include captive gallinaceous species (such as chickens), waterfowl and ratites.
Since October 5, 2022, the national confinement and shielding obligation has also been in force. The penning obligation applies to commercially kept birds, which are brought inside (except for pheasants, ornamental waterfowl and ratites). A protective obligation applies to non-commercially kept high-risk birds (growls/chickens, (ornamental) waterfowl and ratites), for example in zoos, children’s farms and owners of birds and chickens, and to commercially kept pheasants, ornamental waterfowl and ratites. The website of the NVWA contains more information about the confinement and shielding obligation. There is also a ban on exhibiting poultry, waterfowl and ratites.
Traceability investigation
In the context of the contamination at this location, a tracing investigation is carried out into high-risk contacts as usual. If necessary, additional measures will follow on the basis of 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).