#11,442
It's been a little over a year since we last saw an outbreak of avian flu in the Netherlands (see March 2015 Netherlands: Another (likely LPAI H7) Outbreak In Poultry), but today their Ministry of Information is reporting another outbreak at a poultry farm in the northern part of the country.
Low path (LPAI) viruses are commonly found in wild and migratory birds, and despite biosecurity measures, occasionally find their way into poultry operations.
LPAI viruses generally only produce mild symptoms in poultry. The concern is - when LPAI H5 and H7 viruses are not quickly controlled - they have the potential to mutate into highly pathogenic strains.
Something we saw happen several times last summer in the UK, Germany and France (see DEFRA: France’s HPAI H5N1 Another Mutated LPAI Strain).
Hence all H5 & H7 outbreaks are reportable to the OIE, and must be quickly eradicated.
Mild bird flu in Hiaure
News item | 09-06-2016 | 15:55
In Hiaure, part of the municipality Dongeradeel (Friesland) was adopted at a poultry farm with about 48,000 chickens bird flu (avian influenza). This company has two stables with outdoor access. It is probably a mild H7 variant.
Because a low pathogenic (mild) H7 variant can mutate to a highly pathogenic (highly contagious and deadly for chickens) variant, the company must either be removed at a low and a highly pathogenic variant. This is based on European rules. The culling is carried out by the Dutch Food and Goods Authority (NVWA).measures
From June 9, 2016 at 16:00 there is a zone of over one kilometer around the holding in Hiaure a ban on transporting poultry, eggs, poultry manure and used bedding. Within the area is no other poultry.
