"Map of restricted compartments Netherlands"
# 6365
The surprise arrival of avian H5N8 in European poultry farms just months after it emerged in South Korea has put agricultural interests (and to a lesser extent, public health) on alert. The UK and Germany have each reported a single outbreak in poultry, although Germany yesterday reported an infected wild bird.
The Netherlands has thus far been the hardest hit, with farms in three locations now reporting either confirmed or suspected H5N8 infections.
Although we tend to think of Asia when it comes to large avian flu outbreaks, in 2003 HPAI H7N7 was isolated from poultry on a farm in the Netherlands, marking the start of a large epizootic that also spilled into Germany and Belgium.
Before it was through, the virus had forced the culling of 30 million chickens across more than 1300 farms, along with infecting at least 89 people – killing one. Details on that cluster were reported in the December 2005 issue of the Eurosurveillance Journal (see Human-to-human transmission of avian influenza A/H7N7, The Netherlands, 2003).
Having already learned the hard way how devastating an avian flu outbreak can be, today the central government site for the Netherlands (Rijksoverheid.nl) has released an update on the farms currently affected, along with details of a new bird flu control plan.
Locations bird flu
After infection with a company in Hekendorp also been found on poultry farms in Ter Aar and around Kamperveen bird flu.
To combat the outbreak of bird flu in the Netherlands, have been taken on November 23, 2014 new measures . More information about bird flu can be found in the document Frequently Asked Questions and Answers bird flu .
Bird flu Kamperveen
In Kamperveen (Overijssel) is November 21, 2014 to set a poultry bird flu (avian influenza, AI) . The infected farm is cleared as soon as possible. Also, bird flu is established in two other nearby businesses .
Bird flu Ter Aar
On a farm in Ter Aar is determined bird flu on November 20, 2014 . Because of the discovery apply again a nationwide transport ban for poultry and eggs.
Preventive culling Barneveld
In Barneveld on 22 November 8000 a company with ducks culled as a precaution . Research has shown that this company is visited by a truck that had done previously the infected ducks company Kamperveen. Secretary Dijksma wants given the location of the ducks in the poultry business rich Barneveld take any risks.
There are currently no suspected cases of bird flu in Barneveld.
Severe bird flu in Hekendorp
On November 16, 2014 determined that the bird flu is highly pathogenic virus at a poultry farm in Hekendorp (municipality Oudewater). The highly pathogenic strain of avian influenza is very contagious among poultry. For chicken, this version is deadly. Avian influenza is a zoonosis. That means that the infection from animals to humans can be transferred. Protective measures to be taken for that reason.
News item | 23-11-2014
To combat the outbreak of bird flu in the Netherlands, Secretary Dijksma takes a new package of measures. The national movement ban of 72 hours is replaced by a focused regional approach with additional measures for the coming weeks. Proclaimed zones around the infected farms in Hekendorp, Ter Aar and Kamperveen remain in force. All measures are designed to prevent bird flu can spread and are expected to remain 21 days in stand.
Four regions to avoid
Netherlands is divided into 4 regions, between which the contacts are kept to a minimum. These regions are structured so that the two poultry rich areas (Gelderland Valley and the Peel) are each in a different region. Also, the format so that these two poultry rich areas find themselves in a different region of the 3 and 10 km zones established around the places where an outbreak has occurred (Hekendorp, Ter Aar and Kamperveen). Thus spread of bird flu prevented.
Hygiene measures vital
The measures remain focused on the number of contacts between poultry and mixed (for example by means of transport or persons) to limit as much as possible. When transports are necessary hygiene measures very important. Per trip may be visited only one poultry farm, and the trolleys should be re-cleaned and disinfected. Moving poultry manure has a significant risk, and therefore remains prohibited.
No new supply chicks for poultry
In addition, it is not desirable that new poultry being supplied at present to companies. A larger quantity of poultry can lead to increased contamination of other poultry farms. Calculations of the CVI show that almost inevitable that the release of virus in regions with many poultry leading to an epidemic. Therefore, it remains forbidden to transport day-old chicks to poultry farms in the Netherlands.
The transport of day-old chicks has a very low health risk, as opposed to transporting other types of poultry. Therefore transport for export of day-old chicks of clean companies outside the 10 kilometer zones under strict conditions allowed.
