News item | 31-07-2022 | 22:10
In Dalfsen (province of Overijssel) bird flu was diagnosed on a poultry farm with broiler breeders. It is probably a highly pathogenic variant. To prevent the spread of the virus, the approximately 42,000 chickens at the location are culled by the Dutch Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority (NVWA).
There is one other poultry farm belonging to the same owner in the 1 kilometer zone around the infected farm. The approximately 11,000 chickens on this farm will be culled as a preventive measure in connection with high-risk contacts with the infected farm to prevent further spread of the virus. Five other poultry farms are located in the 3 kilometer zone around the infected company, which are screened for bird flu by the NVWA. In addition, these farms will be intensively monitored over the next 14 days for symptoms of disease that may indicate bird flu. There are 27 other poultry farms in the 10 kilometer zone for which the transport ban applies immediately.
Confinement obligation
The company is located in a region where the confinement obligation was lifted on June 28. However, the infected company is located in the restricted zone (10 km) of the previous contamination in Dalfsen for which a confinement obligation was imposed on July 27, 2022. The restricted zone around the contaminated location largely overlaps with the restricted zone that was set up on July 27 in connection with the contamination. in Dalfsen. On the basis of the area regulation, both largely overlapping restricted zones are again subject to a confinement and screening obligation, but this does not apply to the entire region.
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 forbidden 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 absolutely necessary. Birds at risk include kept gallinaceous birds (such as chickens), waterfowl and ratites.
In a number of regions, 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 screening 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
In the context of the contamination at the Dalfsen location, a tracing investigation is being carried out into high-risk contacts, as is usual. 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).