A temporary ban on the transport of poultry throughout the Netherlands was announced on Sunday. Health authorities have detected a highly pathogenic strain of avian influenza in a chicken farm.
A highly pathogenic strain of avian influenza has been detected in a chicken farm in the center of the Netherlands. Dutch health authorities announced on Sunday a temporary ban on the transport of poultry throughout the country. 150,000 chickens on the farm will be evacuated and destroyed.
Prohibition on hunting
“This is a highly pathogenic strain, but it is not yet clear which one exactly,” said a spokesperson for the Ministry of Economic Affairs. In order to limit contamination as much as possible, the ban also applies to eggs and poultry manure, for a maximum period of 72 hours. Except within a radius of 10 kilometers around the operation concerned, which could be maintained for up to 30 days. Analyzes will be carried out on sixteen other farms. A general control of the visits made to the various holdings is in progress. Hunting is also prohibited.
Epidemic in 2003
Avian influenza is an acute respiratory illness which refers to the different forms of the influenza virus. Carried by poultry and wild birds, the disease is transmitted directly from animals to humans. “It is for this reason that protective measures will be taken for people likely to come into contact with contaminated poultry,” said the Ministry of Economic Affairs. In 2003, an avian flu epidemic had already raged in the Netherlands. Over 30 million poultry have been destroyed.
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