News item | 18-08-2022 | 13:57
Bird flu was diagnosed on a duck farm in Lunteren (municipality of Ede, province of Gelderland). It is probably a highly pathogenic variant. To prevent the spread of the virus, the approximately 3000 ducks at the location are culled by the Dutch Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority (NVWA).
In the 1 kilometer zone of the infected company there is 1 other poultry farms where poultry are currently housed. This company will also be cleared. There are 32 other poultry companies in the 3 kilometer zone. There are 256 poultry farms in the 10 kilometer zone.
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 (see https://data.rvo.nl/animal diseasesviewer/index.html).
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, 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 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
As usual, in the context of the contamination at this location in Lunteren, 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).