News item | 14-09-2022 | 18:37
In Zuid-Scharwoude (municipality of Dijk en Waard, province of North Holland) bird flu has been diagnosed in birds on a small-scale farm. It is a highly pathogenic variant. To prevent the virus from spreading, the 35 chickens, 20 geese and 10 guinea fowl are culled by the Dutch Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority (NVWA).
There is one other poultry farm in the 1 kilometer zone. This company will be screened by the NVWA. There are no other poultry farms in the 3 kilometer zone around the infected farm. Five other poultry farms are located in the 10 km area. The transport ban applies to these companies with immediate effect. Zuid-Scharwoude is located in region 2, where the regional confinement and screening obligation is still in full force.
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. 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).
National measures
National measures still apply, 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.
In a number of regions, including the region where this contaminated establishment is located, the confinement and screening obligation is still in full force. The containment and screening obligation also applies in all 10 kilometer areas, which have been established around locations infected with highly pathogenic bird flu. In these regions, 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 for 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 in South Scharwoude, a tracing investigation is being conducted 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).