News item | 10-11-2022 | 16:49
In Zegveld (municipality of Woerden, province of Utrecht) bird flu was diagnosed on a small-scale hobby farm with ornamental water birds. About 100 ornamental water birds are kept at the location. There are also wild birds. To prevent the spread of the virus, the birds present are culled by the Dutch Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority (NVWA).
There are no poultry farms with animals within the restricted zones (1, 3, and 10 kilometres) around the site. There is a poultry farm in the 3-kilometre zone that has been vacant since 2016. And there is one other poultry farm in the 10 km zone. But this company is also currently empty, because it was cleared on 11 October due to an infection in nearby Bodegraven.
Transport ban
Within the restricted zones, 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.
In addition, rules apply to hunting in the 10 kilometer zone. For example, in this area it is prohibited to hunt ducks or to hunt in areas where this could disturb waterfowl. You can see exactly where this is on the animal disease viewer of the Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO).
National measures
There are national measures, 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.
Since 5 October 2022, the national confinement and screening obligation has also been in force. The confinement obligation applies to commercially kept birds, these are brought indoors (except pheasants, ornamental waterfowl and ratites). A protection 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 commercially kept pheasants, ornamental waterfowl and ratites. On the NVWA website you will find more information about the obligation to house and shield. 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).