News item | 07-10-2025 | 00:01
In Gasselternijveenschemond (municipality of Aa and Hunze, the province of Drenthe), bird flu has been set on a company with broiler parents. To prevent the virus, the approximately 71,000 animals are cleared at the location by the Dutch Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority (NVWA). This is the first infection since March this year. Within the 3-kilometer zone there are 6 other poultry farms screened by the NVWA. There are also 25 other commercial poultry farms in the 10 km limitation zone around the infected location.
Measures in the 10 km limitation zone
In the entire 10-kilometer zone, a transport ban immediately applies. This means that no poultry and breeding and consumption eggs may be transported from locations with birds in this zone. A ban also applies to the removal of manure of birds and uses litter, and for other animals and animal products from companies with birds. These measures are needed to prevent spread to other parts of the country.
A lifting and shielding also applies in the entire 10-kilometer zone. The uphill obligation applies to commercially kept birds and the obligation to protrude applies to non -commercial risk birds (for example, hobby -based chickens). The shield and lifting obligation is an effective preventive measure to prevent new infections, because the risk of contact between wild infected birds and kept birds is reduced.
Where the 10-kilometer zone is on, can be seen on the Animal disease viewer of the Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO).
Tracing test
The NVWA carries out tracing investigation into risky contacts. This investigates whether products, or poultry, have been transported to and from this location in the period prior to the report. If necessary, additional measures will follow, such as extra sampling or blocking a risky contact company. These measures are reported via an update in this press release and via the online channels of the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Food Security and Nature (LVVN).
No national measures
There is currently no national withdrawal and shielding obligation in the Netherlands. This contamination is not a reason to immediately introduce a national withdrawal and shielding obligation. However, the expert group of animal diseases will come together again for a risk assessment.