Dutch Poultry Farmers Ordered to Keep Animals Indoors Due to Bird Flu Outbreaks 2023

The Dutch government has mandated that all poultry farmers confine their animals indoors to prevent the spread of bird flu. This directive follows several recent outbreaks of the highly contagious virus in the Netherlands.

In an official statement, the government emphasized that the directive to shelter all poultry is crucial for safeguarding public health and the Dutch poultry industry.

Highlighting the virus’s rapid contagion among birds, the statement explained, “Confining all poultry minimizes the potential transmission of the virus to both wild birds and humans.”

This mandate encompasses various poultry types such as chickens, ducks, turkeys, and geese. While farmers can allow brief outdoor periods for their animals, precautions must be taken to prevent contact with wild birds.

The Dutch government is also taking other steps to try to control the spread of bird flu. These include:

• Increased surveillance of poultry farms
• Restrictions on the movement of poultry
• A program to cull infected birds

Expressing a strong commitment, the government stated that it is treating the situation with utmost seriousness, pledging to take all necessary measures to safeguard both public health and the poultry industry.

Among the European nations grappling with bird flu outbreaks in recent months, the Netherlands joins a list that includes France, Germany, and Italy.

While the World Health Organization (WHO) assesses the human risk of contracting bird flu as “low,” it continues to advise precautionary measures, including avoiding contact with ill birds and practicing thorough handwashing after handling poultry or eggs.

Here are some additional tips to help prevent the spread of bird flu:

• Cook poultry and eggs to a safe temperature (165 degrees Fahrenheit for chicken and 175 degrees Fahrenheit for other poultry)
• Do not eat raw or undercooked poultry or eggs
• Wash your hands thoroughly after handling poultry or eggs
• Avoid contact with sick birds
• Report any sick or dead birds to your local animal health authorities

For more information on bird flu, please visit the following websites:
World Health Organization: https://www.who.int/westernpacific/emergencies/surveillance/avian-influenza
European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control: https://www.ecdc.europa.eu/en/avian-influenza