Bird Flu Spreads in Dutch Poultry
THE NETHERLANDS - Two further outbreaks of avian influenza have been reported in Dutch poultry in new provinces across the country and two further poultry flocks have been culled as a precaution against further spread of the virus. The government has reinstated a nationwide ban on all poultry movements.
22 November 2014
3 minute read
By: The Dutch veterinary authority sent Follow Up Report No.1 dated 21 November to the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE).
It describes a new outbreak of highly pathogenic bird flu in a layer flock at Ter Aar, in the province of South Holland (Zuid-Holland), which is in the north-west of the country. Around 100 of the flock of 43,000 birds died; the rest have been destroyed.
On 20 November 2014, a 10-km surveillance zone was established, according to the report. Within this area, there are no other premises with poultry.
According to the Dutch Ministry of Economic Affairs, there are three poultry houses at the premises and all have been depopulated.
The nationwide ban on the transportation of poultry and poultry products (including manure), which had been lifted late in the week, was reinstated for 72 hours from 20 November.
The Ministry adds that there are four poultry farms within the 10-kilometre zone; all are being tested for the bird flu virus.
The virus was confirmed as the same H5N8 highly pathogenic form that affected the first Dutch farm in Hekendorp last week.
On 21 November, the Ministry reported a farm at Kamperveen in the province of Overijssel in central-eastern Netherlands had been hit by a bird flu virus. Around 10,000 birds were present on that farm, which will be depopulated "as soon as possible".
The presence of an H5 strain of bird flu was confirmed but whether it is a low pathogenic or highly pathogenic variant was still to be established.
Within the 10-kilometre zone around the Kamperveen are 34 other poultry farms. These companies had been sampled and were being tested for avian influenza.
Also on 21 November, the Ministry reported symptoms that could be bird flu on one of two farms just one kilometre from Kamperveen. All birds on both of the farms were due to be culled on the same day.
Today, 22 November, the Ministry of Economic Affairs reported that 8,000 ducks at Barneveld have been culled as a precaution. The farm had previously been visited by a truck that had called at the duck company at Kamperveen.
Secretary Dijksma explained that the culling was ordered to protect the many other poultry businesses in the Barneveld area, which is in the province of Gelderland in the east of the Netherlands.
She expressed sympathy for the poultry farmers and the animals, saying the situation is very difficult for all concerned and stressed that it is necessary to make every possible effort to prevent a repeat of the outbreak in 2003.
There are currently no suspected cases of bird flu in Barneveld.
