Avian flu: The Netherlands and Belgium have been confining their poultry since October 5
In September, the Netherlands recorded 18 outbreaks of H5N1 virus contamination, while Belgium has declared the 8th since September 21. The last dates from Wednesday, October 5 at a bird trader located in Diksmuide, about twenty kilometers from France.
For details of the outbreaks, see our interactive map below
In the vast majority of cases, infected wild birds are probably the source of these outbreaks. A few outbreaks declared in backyards are epidemiologically linked (common origin and/or exchanges of animals).
In the Netherlands, the decision to lock up poultry follows the monthly meeting of the committee of experts on 29 September. The risk has increased, among other things, due to the high number of infections and the upcoming migration of birds. In addition to an increased risk of infection, migrating birds could also bring a new variant of bird flu.
The containment and screening obligation was already in force in a number of areas.
In yellow, the compulsory confinement zones in the Netherlands on September 29
© Report of the Expert Panel on Animal Diseases HPAI Risk Assessment September 29, 2022
The confinement obligation applies to keepers of birds for commercial purposes. They must be kept in an enclosed space, with the exception of pheasants, ornamental wildness and ratites, but the screening requirement is maintained. The confinement obligation applies to zoos and owners of amateur birds in order to avoid contact with sick wild birds or their droppings as much as possible.
In Belgiumcontainment concerns commercial poultry establishments, bird and poultry traders and individuals registered in the Sanitel database. This last category includes individuals holding more than 200 hobby poultry and those selling birds or eggs for direct sale and/or on markets.
Concretely, all poultry must be confined or protected in such a way as to avoid any contact with wild birds. They must be fed inside (or under nets). Drinking water from surface water reservoirs or rainwater accessible to wild birds is prohibited.
There is currently no confinement obligation for individuals yet, but the Federal Food Safety Agency (Afsca) strongly advises to protect themselves.