News item | 27-08-2022 | 10:24
In Ter Aar (municipality of Nieuwkoop, province of South Holland) bird flu was diagnosed at a hobby farmer with chickens and ducks. It is probably a highly pathogenic variant. Approximately 80 chickens and ducks were present on the farm. To prevent the spread of the virus, the chickens and ducks still present at the location are culled by the Dutch Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority (NVWA).
There are no other poultry farms in the 1 kilometer zone of the infected farm. There are 2 poultry farms in the 3 kilometer zone that 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 2 poultry farms in the 10 kilometer zone, for which the transport ban applies immediately.
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. current infections and measures on the map in the Animal Disease Viewer of the Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO).
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
In the context of the contamination at this location in Ter Aar, 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).