Avian Influenza Detected in Ter Aar

Avian influenza has been detected in Ter Aar (municipality of Nieuwkoop, province of South Holland) at a hobbyists farm with chickens and ducks. This likely concerns a highly pathogenic variant. Approximately 80 chickens and ducks are present on the farm. The Dutch Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority (NVWA) is removing the remaining animals to prevent the spread of the virus.

There are no other poultry farms within the 1-kilometer zone of the infected farm. In the 3-kilometer zone, there are 2 poultry farms that are being screened for avian influenza by the NVWA. Additionally, these farms will be intensively monitored for signs of illness that may indicate avian influenza over the next 14 days. In the 10-kilometer zone, there are 2 poultry farms that are immediately subject to a transport ban.

A transport ban applies to all birds and breeding and consumption eggs from locations with birds. The ban also includes manure from birds and used bedding, as well as other animals and animal products from farms with poultry. There are also rules for hunting; for instance, hunting ducks or hunting in areas that may disturb waterfowl is prohibited. View the current infections and measures on the map in the Disease Viewer of the Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO).

National measures remain in place, such as a ban on visiting bird habitats of at-risk birds unless absolutely necessary. At-risk birds include kept gallinaceous birds (like chickens), waterfowl, and shorebirds.

In several regions, including the one where this infected facility is located, the housing and screening obligation remains in effect. In these regions, there is a housing obligation for commercially kept birds, which must be brought indoors (except for pheasants, ornamental waterfowl, and shorebirds). For non-commercially kept at-risk birds (gallinaceous birds/chickens, (ornamental) waterfowl, and shorebirds), such as in zoos, petting farms, and private owners of birds and chickens, and for commercially kept pheasants, ornamental waterfowl, and shorebirds, a screening obligation applies. More information about the housing and screening obligation can be found on the NVWA website here. There is also a ban on exhibiting poultry, waterfowl, and shorebirds.

As usual, a tracing investigation is being conducted regarding the infection at this location in Ter Aar, focusing on risky contacts. If necessary, additional measures will be taken based on the outcomes of the investigation. These potential additional measures will be communicated via an update in this press release and through the online channels of the Ministry of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality (LNV).