Bird flu detected in Friesland: 63,000 chickens culled

Bird flu has been confirmed at a poultry farm in Blija, Friesland, leading to the culling of more than 63,000 broiler chickens, the Ministry of Agriculture announced Sunday.

The outbreak marks the second confirmed case of bird flu at a poultry farm in the Netherlands this year. In November, the virus was detected at an organic chicken farm in Putten, Gelderland, resulting in the culling of 23,000 chickens.

The infected farm in Blija houses its chickens in three separate barns, according to local broadcaster Omrop Fryslân. To prevent the spread of the virus, the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority (NVWA) is monitoring nearby poultry farms closely.

There are 13 additional poultry farms located within the area, including one less than a kilometer from the affected site. Samples are being collected from these neighboring farms to check for further infections.

A 10-kilometer containment zone has been established around the Blija farm. The Ministry of Agriculture has imposed an immediate transport ban within this zone, prohibiting the movement of birds, hatching eggs, and table eggs.

Following the Putten outbreak, Agriculture Minister Dennis Wiersma introduced a nationwide "indoor confinement order" on November 20. Under this directive, all poultry at commercial farms must remain indoors, and access to farms is restricted to essential personnel, such as veterinarians and farm staff.

“I understand that outdoor poultry farmers and hobbyists are particularly affected by this measure, but we must do everything possible to prevent further outbreaks,” Wiersma stated. “The safety of our animals is our top priority.”