On 29 October 2020, Wageningen Bioveterinary Research (WBVR) detected avian flu (H5) in broiler breeders on a farm in Altforst in the Netherlands. This is a highly pathogenic strain of avian flu.
There are nine other poultry farms within a 3 km radius of the infected farm in Altforst. These farms are being sampled and investigated for avian flu by WBVR. There are also a further 25 poultry farms inside the 10 km zone around this farm. A transport ban has been imposed inside this zone.
Transport ban
Carola Schouten, Dutch Minister of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality, announced an immediate transport ban for poultry farms in a 10 km zone around the farm in Altforst. The ban covers poultry, eggs, poultry manure and used litter, as well as other animals and animal products from commercial poultry farms.
Measures
All current national measures in the Netherlands, such as the obligation for commercial poultry to be kept indoors, will remain in full force. In addition, zoos, petting zoos and owners of hobby birds are required to shield their poultry and waterfowl so that they do not come into contact with wild waterfowl and their droppings. This can be done by keeping the birds in an aviary or a run, for example. Zoos and petting zoos may still receive visitors. The existing hygiene protocol for visitors of commercial poultry farms is being extended. Among other things, this means that visitors will only be permitted to enter the shed or yard after taking strict hygiene measures.
A ban on shows and exhibitions of ornamental poultry and waterfowl has also been imposed.
