Highly contagious avian flu outbreak leads to culling of 14,000 chickens in Noord-Brabant
A severe avian flu outbreak at a broiler farm in Oudemolen has forced authorities to cull 14,000 chickens to prevent further spread. Residents and poultry farmers within a 10-kilometer zone face transport bans, disrupting local businesses and raising concerns about food supply and animal welfare.
| Key Data | Details |
|---|---|
| Location | Oudemolen, Noord-Brabant (near Moerdijk) |
| Number of chickens culled | 14,000 |
| Strain | Highly contagious avian flu |
| 3km radius farms | 2 poultry farms (being tested) |
| 10km radius farms | 8 poultry farms (transport ban in effect) |
| Transport ban applies to | Poultry, eggs, manure, used litter, and other animal products |
| National measures | Indoor housing and biosecurity obligations since October 16, 2025 |
| Visitor restrictions | Tightened since November 26, 2025 |
| Authorities involved | Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Food Security and Nature (LVVN), NVWA |
| Date of culling | March 21, 2026 |
The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Food Security and Nature (LVVN) is responsible for safeguarding animal health and food security in the Netherlands. In cases of highly contagious animal diseases like avian flu, the LVVN works with the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority (NVWA) to enforce measures such as culling, transport bans, and biosecurity protocols to prevent further outbreaks.
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Read the full translated article below
Avian flu confirmed in Oudemolen
Avian flu has been confirmed at a broiler farm with 14,000 chickens in Oudemolen, a neighboring municipality of Moerdijk. This involves a highly contagious strain of avian flu. To prevent the spread of the virus, the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Food Security and Nature (LVVN) has decided to have the broilers culled on-site by the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority (NVWA). The broilers were culled on Saturday, March 21. Within a 3-kilometer radius of the infected farm in Oudemolen, there are two other poultry farms. These farms are being sampled and tested for avian flu. Additionally, within the 10-kilometer zone around this farm, there are eight other poultry farms. A transport ban applies to this zone. For more information Rijksoverheid.
Transport ban
There is an immediate transport ban for poultry farms within a 10-kilometer zone around the avian flu-infected farm in Oudemolen. The transport ban applies to poultry, eggs, poultry manure and used litter, as well as other animals and animal products originating from farms with commercially kept poultry. For more information Rijksoverheid.
National measures
Since October 16, 2025, a national indoor housing and biosecurity obligation has been in effect in the Netherlands. The indoor housing obligation applies to all commercially kept birds. The biosecurity obligation applies to non-commercially kept risk birds (such as hobby chickens).
Since November 26, 2025, the national visitor ban to bird enclosures that are part of facilities with commercially kept birds has been tightened. Visits to these facilities are only permitted if the visit is necessary for public health, animal health, animal welfare or the health of persons present in the stable.
Tracing investigation
The NVWA is conducting a tracing investigation into high-risk contacts. This involves examining whether products or poultry were transported to or from this location in the period prior to the report. If necessary, additional measures will follow, such as extra sampling or blocking a high-risk contact farm. These measures will be announced via an update to this press release and through the online channels of the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Food Security and Nature (LVVN).