#12,954
Although there have been reports in the media for the past 3 or 4 hours, I've been waiting for an official report to appear on the Netherlands' Rijksoverheid (government) website. First the statement, then I'll return with a bit more.
Bird flu identified in poultry in Biddinghuizen
release | 08-12-2017 | 12:09
In Biddinghuizen (Dronten) on Friday, December 8th at a company with duck meat bird flu of the H5 type set. It probably involves a highly pathogenic strain of bird flu. To prevent spread of the virus, the company is cleared. In total there are approximately 16,000 meat ducks. The culling is performed by the Dutch Food Safety Authority (NVWA).
In the area of three kilometers around the infected holding in Biddinghuizen are four other poultry farms. These companies are sampled and tested for avian influenza. In the 10-kilometer zone surrounding this company are 23, poultry farms.
Schouten Minister of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality has immediately announced a ban on transporting poultry in an area of ten kilometers around the infected holding in Biddinghuizen. A movement ban applies to poultry, eggs, poultry manure and used bedding, but also other animals and animal products from companies with commercially farmed poultry.
national measures
Because there is a highly pathogenic variant of the Netherlands set an indoor confinement. This applies to all commercial companies that birds intended for the production of meat, eggs or other products. The indoor confinement also applies to companies that breeding birds are released into the wild. The measure was taken as a precaution to reduce the risk of further infection.
Zoos, petting zoos and owners of hobby birds are obliged to protect their poultry and waterfowl that these animals do not come into contact with wild waterfowl and their droppings. For example, this can be done by keeping the animals in an aviary or for placing in a run. Zoos and petting zoos can be visited.
The existing hygiene protocol for visitors to visit commercial poultry is extensive. This also means that visitors are only allowed to enter the house or yard after taking strict hygiene.
There is a ban on the exhibition of ornamental poultry and waterfowl.
Duck and turkey companies(Continue. . . )
In addition, some additional measures applicable to duck and turkey companies, these are effective immediately. Firstly, ducks companies should comply with a protocol for hygiene litter, including the covering of the litter storage, and cleaning of the equipment which is used to bring in the barn bedding materials. Second, ducks or turkeys may be transported only after they have been examined by a veterinarian. Finally shipments to or from these companies may only take place directly.
Despite persistent outbreaks of HPAI H5N8 in Northern Italy, and the occasional report of a dead wild bird in Germany or Switzerland, the expected return of HPAI H5N8 this fall has been slow in coming.
Every year is different, however, and as we saw after the 2014-15 HPAI H5 epizootic, sometimes bird flu doesn't return the following year (see PNAS: The Enigma Of Disappearing HPAI H5 In North American Migratory Waterfowl).The wrinkle this year, aside from the timing, may be the subtype that shows up in Europe. While H5N8 is high on the the expected list, reports of a reassorted H5N6 showing up in Japan, South Korea, and Taiwan over the past couple of weeks are a reminder of how quickly the status quo can change.
Stay tuned.
