News item | 04-01-2022 | 21:09
Research has shown that the laying hens on the poultry farm in Bentelo (municipality of Hof van Twente, province of Overijssel), where bird flu was previously diagnosed, have a highly pathogenic form of bird flu. To prevent the virus from spreading, the approximately 120,000 laying hens are culled at this company. Next to the infected farm is a poultry farm of the same owner, where the same caretakers work. This company with approximately 69,000 chickens is culled as a preventive measure. The clearances are carried out by the Dutch Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority (NVWA). The measures taken previously remain in force.
In a zone of 1 kilometer around the infected farm, there are 3 other poultry farms in addition to the poultry farm mentioned above. One of these companies is empty. The other two companies have no direct contact with the infected company, so there is no increased risk of contamination through high-risk contacts. These two companies remain blocked and intensively monitored.
There are 4 poultry farms in the area of 3 kilometers around the infected farm, which are sampled for bird flu. There are 32 other poultry farms in the 10 kilometer zone around this company.
A transport ban was previously imposed in the 10 kilometer zone around this company. This travel ban remains in effect.
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. See also the explanation of the scheme for more information.
The national storage and screening obligation is still in full force. The house keeping obligation applies to commercially kept birds, these are brought indoors (except pheasants and ratites). For non-commercially kept high-risk birds (fowls/chickens, waterfowl and ratites), for example in zoos, petting zoos and owners of birds and chickens, and for commercially kept pheasants, ratites and ornamental waterfowl, there is a protection obligation. It must be prevented as much as possible that the birds come into contact with sick wild birds or their droppings. This can be done, for example, by keeping the animals in an aviary. on the website of the NVWA you can find more information about how this can best be done. A ban has also been imposed on the display of poultry, waterfowl and ratites.
Keepers of laying hens, breeding stock, broilers and ducks are still subject to a stricter reporting obligation. In this context, poultry farmers must report the loss of their poultry to the NVWA earlier, so that infections with bird flu can come to light earlier and the chance of spreading is reduced.
Tracking Investigation
As usual, in the context of the contamination at the company in Bentelo, a tracing investigation is being conducted into high-risk contacts. In these investigations, the NVWA examines whether ‘risky contact’ has taken place between the infected company and other locations. A risky contact is, for example, when a visitor has been to an infected company, and then visited another company. If necessary, additional measures will be taken in response to the results of the investigation. Any additional measures will be reported in an update in this press release and via the online channels of the Ministry of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality.