Avian influenza has been detected at a broiler farm in Opende (municipality Westerkwartier, province Groningen). To prevent the spread of the virus, approximately 56,000 animals at the location are being culled by the Dutch Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority (NVWA). The location is close to the infections detected on November 7 and 14 in Drogeham. The established 10-kilometer zones largely overlap.
There are no other poultry farms within the 1-kilometer zone. Within the 3-kilometer zone, 3 other poultry farms are being screened by the NVWA. Within the 10-kilometer zone, there are 29 poultry farms.
Transport Ban
A transport ban applies immediately throughout the entire 10-kilometer zone. This means that no poultry and hatching or consumption eggs may be transported from locations with birds in this zone. There is also a ban on the removal of manure from birds and used litter, as well as other animals and animal products from farms with birds. These measures are necessary to prevent spread to other parts of the country. The location of the 10-kilometer zone can be seen on the Animal Disease Viewer of the Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO).
Read the full report on the Rijksoverheid website.
For questions about the culling, journalists can contact the NVWA press team at (088) 22 33 700.
For questions about avian influenza policy, journalists can contact the spokespersons of the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Food Security and Nature.
