News item | 02-12-2023 | 07:54
In Putten (municipality of Putten, province of Gelderland), bird flu has been detected on a laying hen farm. To prevent the spread of the virus, the approximately 110,000 chickens at the location are being culled by the Dutch Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority (NVWA).
There are two other poultry farms within the 1-kilometer zone. These companies are screened and sampled for bird flu by the NVWA. There are 10 poultry farms within the 3-kilometer zone. All companies in the 3-kilometer zone, including the two companies in the 1-kilometer zone, are sampled by the NVWA for bird flu. There are 82 other companies in the 10-kilometer zone, including 3 poultry slaughterhouses. A corridor will be established for the supply of slaughter animals to poultry slaughterhouses.
Transport ban
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.
National measures
Since November 14th, there has been a national obligation to enclose and shield animals again. 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.
There are also national measures in place, 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.
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).