22-11-24 Announcement FAVV: Avian Influenza – tightening of preventive measures starting 23-11-24
The situation regarding avian influenza has evolved unfavorably over the past few weeks along the migratory routes crossing our country. In recent days, infections have been observed in wild birds and poultry both to the north and south of our country, notably in the Netherlands, Germany, and France. Although the findings in our country are still limited—only a small number of infections in wild birds have been discovered—it is clear that the circulation of highly pathogenic avian influenza viruses is on the rise again. This also means that more virus is entering the environment, and the risk that poultry and kept birds become infected through contact with wild birds or their droppings is again substantial.
Minister Clarinval has therefore decided to tighten the preventive measures for avian influenza again starting Saturday, November 23.
What do the adjustments entail?
Commercial poultry businesses, poultry establishments registered in Sanitel, and traders
- All poultry and other birds must be housed indoors or protected from contact with wild birds by nets. Free-range birds are exempt from this requirement.
- All poultry and other birds must be fed and provided water indoors or shielded by nets.
- No untreated surface water or rainwater may be used for poultry and other birds.
- The unloading of poultry destined for slaughterhouses must again be done under the conditions of instruction 1714117 (see attachment).
Non-registered hobbyist holdings
- All kept birds must be fed and provided water indoors or shielded by nets.
- No untreated surface water or rainwater may be used for kept birds.
Two points of attention:
- It is not mandatory to house or shield birds from non-registered hobbyist holdings, but the FAVV strongly recommends this.
- In some outbreaks in neighboring countries, it has been observed that mortality during the initial phase of infection was very limited. This is different from the clinical picture we noted in previous years when mortality in poultry rose very quickly and very high.
The FAVV emphasizes the need to promptly raise alarm bells and submit samples for investigation whenever a sudden, unexplained mortality of just a few birds is observed in a batch of poultry. Instruction 1665176 regarding enhanced vigilance has also been adapted in this regard.
I would further like to emphasize that it is absolutely necessary to strictly apply all biosecurity measures. I refer you to the document outlining the obligations regarding this on the website: https://favv-afsca.be/nl/themas/dieren/dierengezondheid/dierziekten/vogelgriep.
Later today, a press release will be distributed, and the website will be updated.
1714117 unloading conditions v2 – 20220512 nl
5-11-2024 Announcement FAVV: Avian Influenza – status report
The avian influenza season 2024-2025 has now commenced. In the past weeks, the first new infections have been detected among wild birds along our coast. As shown by the maps from the European notification system ADIS attached, several infections have also been found along the migratory routes crossing our country in the past month, both in wild birds and on poultry farms, including in Poland, Germany, France, and Spain:
map 1: poultry and kept birds
map 2: wild birds
https://www.kbdb.be/vogelgriep/
It is expected that the infection pressure will gradually increase in the coming weeks. Due to the deteriorating conditions north of our country, more and more migratory birds will travel southward. It is impossible to predict exactly how high the infection pressure around our poultry farms will be as a result. In any case, the weather conditions in autumn (cool temperatures, damp and foggy weather) allow avian influenza viruses to survive longer in the environment, increasing the risk of introduction into the barns.
I therefore urge the need to sharpen biosecurity on and around poultry farms again and to strictly apply all necessary preventive measures to prevent introduction. Biosecurity is only as strong as the weakest link on the farm. In this context, I draw attention to the newsletter about the mandatory annual biosecurity survey that was disseminated yesterday: https://www.static.favv.be/newsletters-vt-da/newsletter479_nl.asp.
The FAVV is currently assessing whether the general preventive measures for avian influenza need to be escalated again. It is being evaluated whether the housing of birds on poultry farms and at traders should be reintroduced in the short term and whether the unloading regulations need to be tightened again.
All relevant information can still be found on the FAVV website: https://favv-afsca.be/nl/themas/dieren/dierengezondheid/dierziekten/vogelgriep.