In Bentelo (municipality of Hof van Twente) bird flu was diagnosed on a poultry farm. To prevent the spread of the virus, the chickens were culled. The poultry farm next to the infected farm was preventively culled. Poultry farms within a three-kilometre radius are being tested for bird flu. A transport ban is immediately in force in an area of ten kilometres around the affected poultry farm. This transport ban also applies to the municipality of Borne. In addition, measures are in place to prevent the spread of the virus. These measures also apply to hobby breeders!
Avian influenza is an animal disease that is highly contagious and dangerous for chickens, turkeys and ducks. To prevent its spread, the government is taking strict measures such as a transport ban and sampling of poultry farms in the region. The transport ban applies to poultry, eggs, poultry manure and old litter, but also to other animals and animal products from farms with commercially reared poultry.
The national storage and shielding obligation is still in force. This applies to commercially kept birds. For non-commercially kept endangered birds (the hobby poultry breeders, such as petting zoos and owners of hobby birds (such as pigeons and parakeets) and chickens) a shielding obligation applies. This should be done as much as possible to prevent the birds from coming into contact with sick wild birds or their droppings. As a precaution and because of the situation in Bentelo, it is advisable for hobby farmers to house the birds now. See the NVWA website for more information on how best to do this. There is also a ban on the exhibition of poultry, waterfowl and ratites.
Obligation to register
Keepers of laying hens, breeding stock, broilers and ducks are subject to a stricter reporting requirement. Poultry farmers must report their poultry failure to the NVWA, which means that infections with avian influenza can come to light earlier and the likelihood of spreading is reduced.