News item | 02-12-2025 | 20:07
In Nijkerk, province of Gelderland, bird flu has been detected at a duck breeding farm. To prevent the virus from spreading, the approximately 4,700 ducks are being culled by the Dutch Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority (NVWA).
There is 1 other poultry farm in the 1-kilometer zone around this newly infected location. This company is sampled for the presence of the bird flu virus and intensively monitored for 14 days. There are 5 companies in the 3-kilometer zone, which are screened by the NVWA. There are 144 companies in the 10-kilometer zone. A number of these companies are also in the restriction zone around the infections in Terschuur on November 17 and November 23.
Transport ban
A transport ban applies immediately to the entire restricted zone. This means that no birds, hatching eggs and/or eggs for consumption may be transported from locations with birds in this zone. There is also a ban on the disposal of bird manure and used litter. Animals other than birds and their products may be transported to and from locations with birds, provided this is done in accordance with the strict conditions of the hygiene protocol.
These measures are necessary to prevent spread to other parts of the country. Where exactly this is can be seen on the animal disease viewer of the Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO).
National measures
Since October 16, 2025, there has been a national cage and shielding obligation in the Netherlands. The cage requirement applies to all commercially kept birds. The shielding obligation applies to non-commercially kept risk birds (for example chickens kept as a hobby).
Tracing investigation
The NVWA carries out tracing research into risky contacts. This investigates whether products or poultry were transported to and from this location in the period prior to the report. If necessary, additional measures will be taken, such as additional sampling or blocking a risky contact company. These measures will be reported via an update to this press release and via the online channels of the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Food Security and Nature (LVVN).