Avian flu hits Friesland and Gelderland, 281,000 chickens culled

Avian flu has been detected at a laying hen farm in Drogeham, Friesland, prompting authorities to cull all 120,000 birds on the property to prevent the spread of the virus, the Ministry of Agriculture reported.

The Dutch Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority (NVWA) is closely monitoring 27 other poultry farms within a ten-kilometer radius of the infected site. A transport ban for poultry also applies in the area.

The outbreak in Friesland follows a similar incident last month in Dodewaard, Gelderland, where 161,000 chickens were culled after the virus was discovered at a laying hen farm. Cases have also been confirmed in Flevoland and Limburg.

Since October 16, all birds and poultry across the Netherlands have been subject to mandatory indoor housing and shielding measures to curb further outbreaks.