Highly pathogenic H5N1 bird flu found at Dutch poultry farm

01 Nov 2021 --- Wageningen Bioveterinary Research (WBVR) has confirmed yet another outbreak of bird flu in the Netherlands. In Grootschermer, highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza was found in broiler chicken from a poultry farm.

To prevent the virus from spreading, the Dutch Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority (NVWA) culled all 107,000 animals at the site.

WBVR has determined the virus as highly pathogenic bird flu (HPAI) subtype H5N1, and will further investigate whether its genetic makeup is similar to HPAI H5N1 viruses that caused outbreaks in the Netherlands and Europe in 2021.

Transport ban
There are two main types of avian influenza, low pathogenic (LPAI) and HPAI . The last significant European outbreaks were in 2016 and 2017.

The Dutch government has announced an immediate transport ban for poultry farms in the 10 km zone around the affected farm.

This ban applies to poultry, eggs, poultry manure and litter, but also to other animals and animal products from poultry farms.

Housing requirement
In January, WBVR confirmed the occurrence of multiple bird flu strains at a Dutch poultry farm. The highly pathogenic H5N8 strain was among the identified pathogens on a turkey farm in Moergestel, in the south of the country. 

A housing obligation was set in place by the Dutch government for all commercial poultry farms in the Netherlands from October 26.

Zoos, petting zoos and hobby farmers are required to fence off their poultry and waterfowl to prevent contact between these birds and diseased wild birds or their droppings. 

A ban also applies to exhibiting poultry and waterfowl.

By Benjamin Ferrer