Bird flu detected in the Netherlands - almost 40 thousand birds will be destroyed

From 12:00 pm on October 26, additional obligations are imposed on the owners of pet birds in the Netherlands, all of them must now be kept indoors. Such an order was issued today by the Minister of Agriculture Karola Schouten.

According to the publication NL TImes, citing data from the Ministry of Agriculture, the reason for making such decisions at the level of the Ministry was the detected case of the spread of highly pathogenic avian influenza (H5) at a poultry farm in Zevolde (Flevoland). Some 36,000 birds here will be culled under the control of the Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority (NVWA).

Within a radius of three kilometers from the poultry farm where bird flu was detected, there are six more similar farms, and nine more within a radius of ten kilometers. The birds in them will also be tested for the disease.

Currently, a ban has been issued at the level of the Ministry regarding the above-mentioned poultry farms for the transportation of poultry, eggs, MEAT, litter, as well as other animals and products of animal origin.

The Ministry of Agriculture encourages all residents of the Netherlands to report all cases of dead birds or their sudden death, for their subsequent testing for the virus. Information on how to file reports can be found on the NVWA website.

As follows from the decision made by the Minister of Agriculture, all owners of poultry should keep them indoors, in order to avoid contact of sick wild birds with healthy ones. The requirements also apply to zoos, petting zoos, owners of pigeons, parrots, and all agricultural bird species.