Bird flu confirmed at Hierden duck farm; 70,000 birds to be culled

Bird flu has been confirmed at a meat-duck farm in Hierden, Gelderland, and about 70,000 birds are to be culled, the Dutch government says. A 10-kilometre restriction zone and a transport ban have been imposed around the site.

The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority is investigating potentially risky contacts to establish whether poultry or products were moved to or from the farm before the infection was reported. Further measures, including extra testing or restrictions on a contact farm, may follow.

Two poultry farms lie within one kilometre of the affected site, but none are within three kilometres. Eleven other poultry farms are within the 10-kilometre zone. The transport ban covers birds, hatching and table eggs, poultry manure and used litter. Other animals and their products may be moved to or from sites with birds if strict hygiene conditions are followed.

The government says the Hierden farm was previously cleared of birds twice in 2022 because of bird-flu infections. Nationwide, poultry have been required to be kept indoors since 28 October, while keepers of certain non-commercial birds must shield them from wild birds. Visits to premises with commercially kept birds are also restricted.