October 16, 2017

Dutch poultry sector suffers further setback from bird flu outbreak

The poultry sector in the Netherlands, having been beleaguered by a contaminated egg scandal, is recently disrupted by a bird flu outbreak, AFP reported.

As a result of a variant of H5 bird flu - which was found in a poultry farm in Zeeland province, according to Dutch Economic Affairs Minister Henk Kamp - 42,000 egg-laying hens in the southern Netherlands locale were culled to limit infection.

"A mild pathogenic variant of H5 can mutuate into a very contagious and deadly strain for chickens, therefore, in all such cases, the animals have to be put down," Kamp said.

Additionally, an official ban has been imposed on transportation of poultry, eggs, meat and manure within a 1km zone around the farm in the village of Sint Philipsland.

This latest incident marks a setback for Dutch poultry as million of eggs were disposed, along with the culling of some 3.2 million chickens, following the discovery of banned insecticide fipronil used in poultry farms.

About 267 Dutch poultry farms remain closed and is awaiting permission from health authorities to resume production.

- AFP