News item | 29-09-2022 | 23:27
Bird flu was diagnosed on a poultry farm in Wildervank (municipality of Veendam, province of Groningen). It is probably a highly pathogenic variant. To prevent the spread of the virus, the approximately 15,000 laying hens at the location are culled by the Dutch Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority (NVWA).
There are 3 other poultry farms in the 1-kilometre zone around the infected farm. Companies will be screened for bird flu by the NVWA. In addition, these farms are intensively monitored for 14 days for symptoms of disease that may indicate bird flu.
There are 6 other poultry farms in the 3-kilometre zone around the infected farm. These companies will be screened for bird flu.
There are 21 other poultry farms in the 10-kilometre zone around the infected farm. In this area there is now a confinement obligation, a screening obligation, and a transport ban.
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, rules apply to hunting. For example, in this area it is prohibited to hunt ducks or to hunt in areas where this could disturb waterfowl. Where exactly this is can be seen on the animal disease viewer of the Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO).
National measures
National measures still apply, 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 confinement obligation applies to commercially kept birds. These are brought indoors (except pheasants, ornamental waterfowl and ratites). For 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, a shielding obligation applies. 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, a tracing investigation is carried out into high-risk contacts. If necessary, additional measures will be taken in response to the results of the investigation. Any 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).