Threat bird flu: national confinement obligation

All poultry companies in the Netherlands are obliged to keep their animals indoors from midnight (23 October). Carola Schouten, the Minister of Agriculture, has instituted this mandatory incubation after the discovery of 6 dead mute swans in Kockengen (Utrecht). These turned out to be infected with the highly pathogenic variant H5N8. 

This was announced by the Ministry of Agriculture this evening (Thurs 22 October). A dead widgeon has also been found in the same area, which has also been tested for bird flu. The result of this is not yet known. The so-called animal diseases expert group of the ministry has established that the virus probably originates from Russia and was brought to the Netherlands by migratory birds. They then infected the mute swans. There have been many reports of bird flu in Russia in recent months.

High risk of contamination
The experts consider the risk that the animals on a poultry farm will be infected is high, which is why Schouten has instituted the national confinement obligation. This means that all poultry farms with a range (free-range and organic) must keep the chickens indoors. Duck farms are obliged to store the bedding used in the barn in such a way that it is inaccessible to wild birds. When applying the bedding in the barn, prevent material from the yard from entering the barn. 

The Ministry of Agriculture calls on to report dead wild birds. 

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