News item | 23-05-2025 | 20:15
An outbreak with Newcastle Disease has been established with a hobby held in Oldenzaal (province of Overijssel). In the Netherlands, all commercially kept poultry, competition pigeons and birds that participate in exhibitions are vaccinated against Newcastle Disease. Yet occasional outbreaks with this virus occur. Newcastle Disease – also known as pseudo bird plague – is a highly contagious virus disease that mainly affects chickens, pigeons and other birds. In rare cases, people can get sick with mild complaints, such as an eye infection, after intensive contact with infected birds. To prevent the virus, the pigeons are cleared at the location by the Dutch Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority (NVWA).
Measures to limit further distribution
The chance that the virus spreads further from the infected location is small because it is a small hobby farm. Nevertheless, Newcastle Disease, just like bird flu, is a disease that must combat the government. That is why the following measures apply to prevent spread to other parts of the country:
- Compensation: The pigeons at the location are cleared by the NVWA.
- Zone: A limitation zone of 10 km is set around the location. There are four poultry farms within the 10-kilometer zone.
- Transport ban: A transport ban applies immediately to these four companies. This means that no poultry and breeding and consumption eggs may be transported from locations with birds in this zone.
- Discharge ban: There is a ban on the removal of manure of birds and uses litter, and for other animals and animal products from companies with birds.
- Obligation and shielding: There is currently a national uphill and shielding obligation, so also in this 10-kilometer zone. The uphill obligation applies to all commercially kept birds and the shielding obligation applies to non -commercial risk bullets (for example, hobby -rich chickens). Reading here how you can meet a shield.
- Tracing test: The NVWA carries out a tracing investigation into risky contacts. This investigates whether pigeons or products 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.
Where the 10-kilometer zone is on display on the animal disease viewer from the Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO).
What to do with a suspicion?
Commercially kept poultry and competition pigeons must be required to be vaccinated against the disease. This obligation does not apply to hobby poultry. These are therefore sensitive to contamination. Symptoms in unvaccinated chickens include sudden death, breathing problems, egg production decrease, reduced appetite, vibrations or paralysis, or turning mouth. A reporting obligation applies to Newcastle Disease. This means that (suspicions of) infection must be reported immediately to the NVWA. If in doubt, contact your vet. In addition, ensure good hygiene: wash your hands and disinfected boots and clothing.
No danger of public health
There is no danger to public health. People can be infected after intensive contact with infected pigeons. The symptoms are usually mild; An eye infection is most common. Bird holders and visitors to poultry or pigeon exhibitions in the region are advised to pay attention to symptoms and, if in doubt, contact a veterinarian.
For more information, see these questions and answers about Newcastle Disease.