20-03-25 Announcement from the FAVV – Partial lifting of the monitoring zone Sint-Gillis-Waas
This week, the final screening has been completed in the non-overlapping part of the initial monitoring zone Sint-Gillis-Waas, the narrow part towards Antwerp. As a result, this part of the zone could be lifted last night and only the national measures are now in effect there.
The further planning for the zones around the outbreak in Stekene is as follows:
- The protection zone of 3 km will be incorporated into the monitoring zone of 10 km from March 27.
- The final screening of the monitoring zone is scheduled for the first days of April. If results are favorable, this zone will be lifted during the night of April 4 to 5.
Starting today, additional derogations will be provided for poultry farmers who have been in the restriction zones of Sint-Gillis-Waas for more than 30 days, allowing the transport of laying hens and breeding cocks, and the removal of manure from empty farms.
The epidemiological situation has not noticeably changed. Quite a few infections are still being found in wild birds, particularly in gulls. Attention to biosecurity in all activities in poultry farming is therefore always very important.
All useful information and current maps of the zones and of the infections in wild birds can be found on the website: https://www.favv-afsca.be/professionelen/dierlijkeproductie/dierengezondheid/vogelgriep/.
NPO Bird Flu confirmed in Putten
On Wednesday, March 19, 2025, an outbreak of bird flu was confirmed in Putten. This automatically means there is a transport ban for racing pigeons.
14-03-25 Announcement FAVV – Extension of the poultry gathering ban until 31-03-25
The FAVV imposed a temporary ban on the gathering of birds of poultry species (chickens, turkeys, guinea fowl, ducks, geese, quails, pheasants, partridges, running birds, and pigeons other than racing pigeons) kept by private holders on February 5.
This was prompted by the increased risk of infection in birds kept by private holders due to the increased circulation of the virus in wild birds and the determination that several infections were caused by virus circulation at an event with livestock.
This ban initially applies until Sunday, March 16, 2025.
The epidemiological situation has not noticeably improved over the past weeks; on the contrary. The number of infections of highly pathogenic avian influenza in wild birds has further increased: see the map on the website for an overview. This indicates that a lot of virus is still circulating in the environment. This is also underscored by the outbreaks in poultry farms. The situation in surrounding countries is similar.
The FAVV therefore extends the gathering ban until Monday, March 31, 2025. The modalities remain unchanged.
In summary, the ban applies to:
- the gatherings of birds of the poultry species from private holders, namely chickens, turkeys, guinea fowl, ducks, geese, quails, pheasants, partridges, running birds, and pigeons other than racing pigeons;
- the presence of such birds from private holders at regular markets and annual fairs.
Thus, the following do not fall under the gathering ban:
- the birds of traders present at markets;
- racing pigeons and other birds than the poultry species from private holders.
The situation will be closely monitored and evaluated in the coming weeks. If necessary, the ban will be extended.
I would like to add that the protection zone (3 km) in Sint-Gillis-Waas has now been partially converted into a monitoring zone (10 km). I refer to the instructions on the website for further timing on the lifting of these zones.
6-03-25 Announcement from the FAVV – New infection St. Gillis-Waas
A new infection with highly pathogenic avian influenza type H5N1 has been detected in the zones Sint-Gillis-Waas, East Flanders. This concerns a broiler farm in the existing 3 km zone, where a slight increase in mortality was observed yesterday in one of the barns.
The approximately 95,000 broiler chickens at the farm will be culled today.
Due to the new focus, the existing protection zone (radius 3 km) and monitoring zone (radius 10 km) will extend several kilometers westward. There are no additional commercial holdings in the extension of the 3 km zone, but there are four in the extension of the 10 km zone. In the original zones, the existing derogations for broilers and hatching eggs will be maintained. For the new farms in the added part of the 10 km zone, these derogations may be available starting Wednesday, March 12.
The measures in the zones will be extended based on the timing of the new outbreak. Only the non-overlapping part of the monitoring zone (the eastern part towards Antwerp) will be lifted according to the old timing.
As previously indicated, infections in wild birds are also on the rise. This means that the virus pressure around poultry farms is again high and that the risk of an introduction of avian influenza into the barns is significant. Preventive measures and biosecurity must therefore be strictly applied.
All useful information will be updated as soon as possible on the website: bird flu measures.
1831952 instruction monitoring zone Sint-Gillis-Waas v2 – 20250306 nl
1831951 instruction protection zone Sint-Gillis-Waas v3 – 20250306 nl
28-02-25 Announcement FAVV: Lifting monitoring zone Liège
The final screening in the monitoring zone Liège has been completed successfully in recent days.
This zone will therefore be lifted as planned during the night of Saturday, March 1 to Sunday, March 2.
From then on, only the general, national measures will apply.
The lifting for the zones in Sint-Gillis-Waas is planned as follows in the absence of new infections:
- The protection zone will be incorporated into the monitoring zone starting March 11.
- The monitoring zone will be lifted during the night from Wednesday, March 19 to Thursday, March 20, provided the final screening organized the week prior yields favorable results.
The infectious pressure from wild birds remains high in the meantime. In the past week, several additional infections have been detected.
All useful information can be found on the website: https://www.favv-afsca.be/professionelen/dierlijkeproductie/dierengezondheid/vogelgriep/.
18-02-25 Announcement FAVV – New infection in Sint-Gillis-Waas
For the first time in a long while, a new infection with highly pathogenic avian influenza type H5N1 has been detected on a commercial poultry farm. This concerns a laying hen farm in Sint-Gillis-Waas, East Flanders.
The approximately 90,000 hens of the farm, as well as the birds of an adjacent laying hen farm, will be culled today.
Around the outbreak, the usual protection zone (radius 3 km) and monitoring zone (radius 10 km) will be delineated. The monitoring zone partly extends into the Netherlands. In the Belgian part of the zones, there are about 20 poultry farms. For these farms, derogations for the removal of broilers and hatching eggs will be possible starting Monday, February 24.
This infection comes on top of the 5 infections in recent weeks among private keepers in the province of Liège. As previously mentioned, infections among wild birds are also on the rise. This means that the virus pressure around poultry farms is again high and that the risk of an introduction of avian influenza into the barns is significant. Preventive measures and biosecurity must therefore be strictly applied.
1831951 instruction protection zone Sint-Gillis-Waas v1 – 20250218 nl
1831952 instruction monitoring zone Sint-Gillis-Waas v1 – 20250218 nl
All useful information will be updated as soon as possible on the website: https://www.favv-afsca.be/professionelen/dierlijkeproductie/dierengezondheid/vogelgriep/maatregelen.asp.
7-02-25 Announcement FAVV – 2 new infections at hobbyists
Today, two new infections with highly pathogenic avian influenza type H5N1 have been detected at two hobbyists in the municipalities of Theux and Thimister, both in the province of Liège. These new outbreaks are linked to the 3 earlier infections associated with the event involving livestock that was organized in Battice in January.
The two outbreaks are being managed in the usual way. There is no need to delineate new zones.
In wild birds, the circulation of the virus seems to be increasing. The number of reports of suspicious deaths and new infections has increased in recent weeks.
5-02-25 Announcement FAVV – New infection + temporary gathering ban for poultry from hobbyists
New infection with HPAI in Herstal
Today, an additional infection with highly pathogenic avian influenza type H5N1 has been detected in a hobbyist in the municipality of Herstal (province of Liège). This hobbyist is linked to the 2 infections from last week associated with the event with livestock that was held in January in Battice.
The infection is being managed in the usual way. There is no need to adjust the existing zones, but we are still evaluating whether they need to be maintained longer.
Temporary ban on the gathering of birds of poultry species by hobbyists
As previously noted in passing last week, the FAVV has decided to impose a temporary ban on the gathering of birds of poultry species (see the species involved below) from hobbyists.
The ban:
- takes effect from tomorrow, February 6, 2025, and temporarily until Sunday, March 16, 2025;
- applies to the species chickens, turkeys, guinea fowl, ducks, geese, quails, pheasants, partridges, running birds, and pigeons other than racing pigeons from hobbyists (these are the so-called poultry species);
- applies to both the classic gatherings (prize contests, exhibitions, fairs, sales, etc.) and the presence of hobbyists with these poultry species at public (annual) markets.
Thus, not included under the gathering ban:
- the birds of traders, including the poultry species;
- other birds, including racing pigeons, other than the mentioned poultry species, regardless of whether they are from hobbyists or not.
The LCE will revoke or adjust the approvals already granted for such gatherings.
The situation will be re-evaluated in March. Depending on the situation at that time, the ban may possibly be extended.
The pages on bird flu on our website will be updated as soon as possible: https://favv-afsca.be/nl/themas/dieren/dierengezondheid/dierziekten/vogelgriep.
3-02-25 Announcement FAVV – Bird flu outbreaks at 2 hobbyists
Two infections with avian influenza virus type H5N1 have been detected at hobbyists in Liège and Ans, both in the province of Liège. The involved virus has been analyzed today as highly pathogenic.
Since the hobbyist in Liège keeps more than 50 birds, the classic restriction zones of 3 km (protection zone) and 10 km (monitoring zone) will be delineated around this outbreak. In these zones, the usual measures are in effect for bird holdings and activities: see the attached documents.
Importantly, all birds in the protection zone and all poultry in the monitoring zone must be secured and all activities involving poultry and birds in both zones are prohibited. In the absence of new infections, the protection zone will be converted into a monitoring zone after 3 weeks; the latter can only be lifted after 30 days.
Derogations will be provided for the commercial holdings in the monitoring zone that need to transport animals to the slaughterhouse, starting from mid-next week.
Since these are infections in kept birds, our country does not lose its free status for commercial poultry.
These infections are noteworthy as both holders participated with some birds in the prize contests and exhibitions of livestock, which were organized from January 16 to 19 in Battice, also in the province of Liège. These animals fell ill in the days following their return from the event. The involved birds may therefore have been initially infected at this event and there is a risk that other participating animals were infected as well. The FAVV will contact the involved participants based on the attendance lists from the event.
These infections underscore that gatherings of birds are a risk factor in the spread of avian influenza. I remind you that, despite the low number of infections, the virus is indeed circulating among wild birds in our country. The risk of infection of kept birds is therefore real. In light of current events, the FAVV is evaluating whether it remains opportune to allow gatherings with hobby birds in the coming months.
Regardless of any decisions on this matter, I would like to remind you that rules already apply to all authorized events. I refer to the general measures for bird flu: https://favv-afsca.be/sites/default/files/ccc/ai/1714119-algemene_maatregelen-v8-20241122-nl.pdf
In summary, all participating poultry farmers in such events must be registered in Sanitel, enclose their animals for the 10 days prior to the event, and be compliant with the mandatory vaccinations against Newcastle disease. Organizers of such gatherings must timely register their gathering with the LCE. They must clearly communicate these rules to all participants and require the necessary guarantees that they comply!
I would also like to state that the risk of infection for the holders and visitors at the event in Battice is very low. The found virus is a typical bird virus and is therefore not adapted to humans.
Our website: https://favv-afsca.be/nl/themas/dieren/dierengezondheid/dierziekten/vogelgriep.
- 1830973-instruction_protection_zone_Liège-v1-20250130-nl
- 1830974-instruction_monitoring_zone_Liège-v1-20250130-nl