November 9, 2020

200,000 chickens to be culled in the Netherlands after second bird flu case confirmed

The Dutch Ministry of Agriculture has ordered 200,000 chickens to be culled at a Puiflijk town poultry farm, east of the country following a confirmed highly pathogenic bird flu case, Reuters reported.

This is the second bird flu case reported in the country following the first H5N8 case detected among wild fowl.

The culling affects all birds within a 1 km radius of the affected farm, including birds at a second farm.

Poultry farmers in the Netherlands have been told to keep their birds inside to prevent the spread of the virus until further notice.

The new bird flu case is within 3 km of the initial bird flu case, 30 km from Nijmegen located next to the border to Germany. The ministry said other farms in the vicinity are being tested for the virus, as a transport ban for birds has been imposed within a 10 km radius.

The Netherlands is the biggest exporter of chicken meat and eggs in Europe, with its poultry industry worth EUR 1.6 billion (~US$1.9 billion; EUR 1 = US$1.19). 10,000 people are employed in the industry in 2,000 farms.

Neighbouring UK ordered 13,000 birds at a Frodsham, Cheshire to be culled after bird flu was detected there.

-      Reuters