Bird flu prevention plan in effect

On Sunday State Secretary Sharon Dijksma of Economic Affairs announced other measures to prevent bird flu from spreading.

The Netherlands is divided into four regions - the West (with Ter Aar and Hekendorp where bird flu has been confirmed), the Gelderland Valley (Barneveld and vicinity), southeast and the north and east (with Kamperveen). Contact between these areas must be minimal.

Farmers are again allowed to trade in poultry. The government banned this earlier, but the ban ended on Sunday at 14:00 p.m. Farmers are required to cage and shield their poultry. More attention must be paid to hygiene - trucks will be cleaned and disinfected after each ride.

The supply of fresh poultry to businesses is banned. There is also a ban on the transport of poultry manure, the transport of day-old chicks, the hunting of all animals and the exhibition of poultry and other birds.

These new measure will probably be in effect for 21 days.