Avian flu outbreak leads to culling of 23,000 chickens in Gelderland
A recent avian flu outbreak at a laying hen farm in Putten, Gelderland, has prompted authorities to cull 23,000 chickens. Residents and poultry farmers within a 10-kilometre zone face transport bans and heightened biosecurity measures to curb the virus's spread.
| Key Fact | Details |
|---|---|
| Location | Putten, Gelderland |
| Number of chickens culled | 23,000 |
| Affected zones | 1 km, 3 km, and 10 km around the infected site |
| Poultry farms in 10 km | 64 |
| Transport ban | Birds, hatching eggs, table eggs, manure, and used litter |
| National measures | Indoor housing and biosecurity obligation since October 16, 2025 |
| Tracing investigation | Ongoing by NVWA to examine high-risk contacts |
The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Food Security and Nature (LVVN) is responsible for managing animal health crises, including avian flu outbreaks. It enforces measures to prevent the spread of the virus, safeguarding both the poultry industry and public health. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority (NVWA) implements these measures on the ground.
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Read the full translated article below
Avian flu detected in Putten, Gelderland
Avian flu has been detected at a laying hen farm in Putten (Gelderland province). To prevent the spread of the virus, the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Food Security and Nature (LVVN) has decided to cull the approximately 23,000 chickens at the site, as carried out by the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority (NVWA).
Within the 1-kilometre and 3-kilometre zones around the infected site, there are no other poultry farms. In the 10-kilometre zone, there are 64 other poultry farms. Some of these farms are also located within the restriction zone around the outbreak in Lunteren from March 2.
Transport ban
An immediate transport ban is now in effect across the entire 10-kilometre zone. This means that from locations with birds within this zone, no birds, hatching eggs or table eggs may be transported. The ban also applies to the removal of poultry manure and used litter. These measures are necessary to prevent the virus from spreading to other parts of the country. Other animals and their products may still be transported to and from locations with birds, provided this is done in accordance with the strict conditions of the hygiene protocol.
The location of the 10-kilometre zone can be viewed on the animal disease viewer of the Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO).
National measures
A national indoor housing and biosecurity obligation has been in effect in the Netherlands since October 16, 2025. The indoor housing obligation applies to all commercially kept birds. The biosecurity obligation applies to non-commercially kept high-risk birds (e.g., hobby chickens).
Since November 26, 2025, the national ban on visiting bird enclosures 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 people present in the barn.
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. Additional measures, such as extra sampling or blocking a high-risk contact farm, may follow if necessary. These measures will be announced in an update to this press release and via the online channels of the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Food Security and Nature (LVVN).