December 15, 2020

The Netherlands culls 190,000 chickens after bird flu outbreaks in two poultry farms

The Netherlands' Ministry of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality said authorities have culled about 190,000 chickens after the highly pathogenic H5 strain of bird flu was detected in two poultry farms, AFP reported.

100,000 hens were culled at a poultry farm in Hekendorp outside Gouda city. 90,000 chicks were culled at Witmarsum, in Friesland province.

The ministry said there were no other farms within 1km of the outbreaks, with both farms cleared to prevent the spread of bird flu.

Back in end-October, Dutch Agriculture Minister Carola Schouten said all commercial poultry farms must be kept indoors after H5N8 bird flu was detected in two dead swans.

- AFP