News item | 14-11-2023 | 5:00 PM
In Middelie (municipality of Edam-Volendam, province of North Holland), bird flu has been diagnosed on a care farm. To prevent the spread of the virus, the 180 chickens at the location are being culled by the Dutch Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority (NVWA). Due to this second outbreak in a short period of time, the Minister of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality (LNV) has decided to impose a containment and shielding obligation at a national level.
Lock-in obligation
Given this is the second infection in the Netherlands in a short time and the increase in the number of infections in the European Union, the Minister of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality has decided to reinstate the containment and shielding obligation for the whole of the Netherlands. The cage obligation applies to all commercially kept birds and the shielding obligation applies to non-commercially kept risk birds (for example chickens kept as a hobby). The shielding and enclosure obligation is an effective preventive measure to prevent new infections and reduce the chance of contact between wild infected birds and kept birds.
This second infection in a short period of time is a major setback given the recently assessed low risk. Low risk does not mean zero risk and risk assessment always has a degree of uncertainty. In recent years it has become apparent that the course of the bird flu epidemic is unpredictable. This outbreak fits into that unpredictable pattern. The outbreaks in Renswoude and Middelie show that the virus is apparently circulating in wild birds in certain places in the Netherlands.
Transport ban
There are no other poultry farms within the 1, 3 and 10 kilometer zone. A transport ban applies immediately within the 10-kilometer area. Where exactly this is can be seen on the animal disease viewer of the Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO).
A transport ban applies to all birds and breeding 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.
Other national measures
National measures apply, such as a ban on visiting bird habitats of risk birds, unless this is necessary. Risk birds include domesticated gallinaceous birds (such as chickens), waterfowl and flightless birds.
Due to the outbreak in Renswoude on November 11, the containment and shielding obligation was reinstated for regions 7 and 10. The containment and shielding obligation now applies again to the whole of the Netherlands.
Tracing investigation
In the context of the contamination at this location, a tracing investigation into high-risk contacts is being conducted as usual. If necessary, additional measures will be taken based on 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).