May 13, 2011

The Netherlands to slaughter chickens due to bird flu

After bird flu was detected at a Dutch organic poultry farm, 8,800 chickens would be culled, according to the Dutch authorities on Thursday (May 12).

Sixty farms within a three kilometre (two mile) radius of the farm in Kootwijkerbroek, will be screened and tests would show on Friday (May 13) whether a highly pathogenic version of bird flu had been detected in the birds, the government said.

A ban on the transport of poultry, eggs and manure within the three kilometre zone has also been instituted, it said.