News item | 16-09-2022 | 09:26
Bird flu has been diagnosed at a broiler farm in Tjerkgaast (municipality of De Friese Meren, province of Friesland). It is probably a highly pathogenic variant. To prevent the virus from spreading, the approximately 87,000 animals at the location are culled by the Dutch Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority (NVWA).
There are no other poultry farms in the 1 and 3 kilometer zone around the infected establishment. There are 2 poultry farms in the 10 kilometer zone around the infected farm. The transport ban applies to these companies with immediate effect. A confinement and shielding obligation had already been instituted and is still in 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, hunting rules apply, for example in this area it is prohibited to hunt ducks or to hunt in areas where this could disturb waterfowl.
National measures
There are still national measures in place, such as a ban on visiting bird roosts of risk birds, unless this is 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. In these regions the house keeping 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 the location in Tjerkgaast, a tracing investigation is being conducted into high-risk contacts. If necessary, additional measures are taken in response to the results of the investigation. These possible 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).