Netherlands: 2022 - 2023 H5N1 Bird flu in poultry

[Pathfinder]

Netherlands - High pathogenicity avian influenza viruses (poultry) (Inf. with) - Immediate notification

GENERAL INFORMATION
COUNTRY/TERRITORY OR ZONE
ZONE

ANIMAL TYPE
TERRESTRIAL

DISEASE CATEGORY
Listed disease

EVENT ID
5148

DISEASE
High pathogenicity avian influenza viruses (poultry) (Inf. with)

CAUSAL AGENT
Highly pathogenic avian influenza virus

GENOTYPE / SEROTYPE / SUBTYPE
H5N1

START DATE
2023/07/24

REASON FOR NOTIFICATION
Recurrence of an eradicated disease

DATE OF LAST OCCURRENCE
2023/05/05

CONFIRMATION DATE
2023/07/24

EVENT STATUS
On-going

END DATE
-

SELF-DECLARATION
NO

REPORT INFORMATION
REPORT NUMBER
Immediate notification

REPORT ID
IN_162021

REPORT REFERENCE
HPAI 2023 P

REPORT DATE
2023/07/26

REPORT STATUS
Validated

NO EVOLUTION REPORT
-

EPIDEMIOLOGY
SOURCE OF EVENT OR ORIGIN OF INFECTION
Unknown or inconclusive

EPIDEMIOLOGICAL COMMENTS
On the 24th of July 2023 an outbreak of H5N1 was confirmed on a free range laying hen poultry farm in Biddinghuizen, a 3 km protection zone and a 10 km surveillance zone have been established. In the 3 km zone there are 2 other poultry premises . There were no signs of possible infection. All screening test results were negative. The subtype HPAI H5N1 is confirmed by the National Reference Laboratory Wageningen Bioveterinary Research (WBVR) Lelystad the Netherlands. All susceptible animals on the infected premises have been killed.

QUANTITATIVE DATA SUMMARY
MEASURING UNIT
Animal

...

NEW OUTBREAKS

OB_122577 - BIDDINGHUIZEN
OUTBREAK REFERENCE
-

START DATE
2023/07/24

END DATE
-

DETAILED CHARACTERISATION
-

FIRST ADMINISTRATIVE DIVISION
Flevoland

SECOND ADMINISTRATIVE DIVISION
Dronten

THIRD ADMINISTRATIVE DIVISION
-

EPIDEMIOLOGICAL UNIT
Farm

LOCATION
Biddinghuizen

Latitude, Longitude
52.48 , 5.61

OUTBREAKS IN CLUSTER
-

MEASURING UNIT
Animal

AFFECTED POPULATION DESCRIPTION
On the 24th of July 2023 an outbreak of HPAI H5N1 was confirmed on a free range laying hen poultry farm in Biddinghuizen, a 3 km protection zone and a 10 km surveillance zone have been established. In the 3 km zone there are 2 other poultry premises. There were no signs of possible infection. All screening test results were negative. The subtype HPAI H5N1 is confirmed by the National Reference Laboratory. All susceptible animals on the infected premises have been killed.

SpeciesSusceptibleCasesDeathsKilled and Disposed ofSlaughtered/ Killed for commercial useVaccinated
Birds (DOMESTIC)
Poultry
NEW 10968 150 100 10868 0 0
TOTAL 10968 150 100 10868 0 0​


...

https://wahis.woah.org/#/in-review/5148​

 

[Shiloh]

Source: https://www.nieuweoogst.nl/nieuws/2023/11/12/herinvoering-ophokplicht-door-vogelgriep-renswoude

Reintroduction of a cage requirement due to bird flu in Renswoude
News Poultry John Lamers November 12, 2023 at 8:43 PM

Bird flu was diagnosed on Saturday, November 11, on a farm with 65,000 free-range hens. In regions 7 and 10, a shelter and shielding obligation immediately applies again, which was lifted on November 3.

To prevent the spread of the virus, the approximately 65,000 chickens at the location are being culled by the Dutch Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority (NVWA).

There are two other poultry farms within the 1-kilometer zone. These companies are screened and sampled for bird flu by the NVWA. There are 31 poultry farms within the 3-kilometer zone. All companies in the 3-kilometer zone, including the two companies in the 1-kilometer zone, will be monitored over the next 10 days by sampling the carcasses. This is carried out by the Animal Health Service (GD). This carcass barrel sampling is carried out instead of the preventive clearing of companies. There are 202 other poultry farms in the 10-kilometer zone.

Transport ban

A transport ban applies immediately within the 10-kilometer area. Where exactly this is can be seen on the animal diseases viewer of the Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO).

A transport ban applies to all birds and breeding and consumption eggs from a location with birds. The ban also applies to bird manure and used litter, and to other animals and animal products from poultry farms.
National measures

National measures apply, such as a ban on visiting bird habitats of risk birds, unless this is necessary. Risk birds include domesticated gallinaceous birds (such as chickens), waterfowl and flightless birds.

In the context of the contamination at this location, a tracing investigation into high-risk contacts is being conducted as usual. If necessary, additional measures will be taken based on the results of the investigation.​

 

[Michael Coston]

Netherlands Reinstates Nationwide Poultry Lockdown Following Two H5N1 Outbreaks



#17,762

Less than two weeks ago the Netherlands revoked the last of their avian flu poultry restrictions after reporting no outbreaks since last July and few reports of the virus in wild birds across Europe. Their Animal Diseases Expert Group estimated the risk of contamination of a poultry farm to be low.

Three days ago (Nov 11th) avian flu was detected in Renswoude ( province of Utrecht) resulting in the immediate culling of 65,000 birds, followed by the announcement today of a second, smaller outbreak in Middelie (province of North Holland).​

These two outbreaks have forced the nation to reinstate many of their recently relaxed restrictions. A translation of today's announcement from the Ministry of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality follows:

Bird flu diagnosed in Middelie, national lockdown requirement reinstated

News item | 14-11-2023 | 5:00 PM

In Middelie (municipality of Edam-Volendam, province of North Holland), bird flu has been diagnosed on a care farm. To prevent the spread of the virus, the 180 chickens at the location are being culled by the Dutch Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority (NVWA). Due to this second outbreak in a short period of time, the Minister of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality (LNV) has decided to impose a containment and shielding obligation at a national level.​

Storage duty

Given this is the second infection in the Netherlands in a short period of time and the increase in the number of infections in the European Union, the Minister of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality has decided to reinstate the containment and shielding obligation for the whole of the Netherlands. The cage obligation applies to all commercially kept birds and the shielding obligation applies to non-commercially kept risk birds (for example chickens kept as a hobby). The shielding and enclosure obligation is an effective preventive measure to prevent new infections and reduce the chance of contact between wild infected birds and kept birds.

This second infection in a short period of time is a major setback given the recently assessed low risk. Low risk does not mean zero risk and risk assessment always has a degree of uncertainty. In recent years it has become apparent that the course of the bird flu epidemic is unpredictable. This outbreak fits into that unpredictable pattern. The outbreaks in Renswoude and Middelie show that the virus is apparently circulating in wild birds in certain places in the Netherlands.​

Transport ban

There are no other poultry farms within the 1, 3 and 10 kilometer zone. A transport ban applies immediately within the 10-kilometer area. Where exactly this is can be seen on the animal diseases viewer of the Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO).

A transport ban applies to all birds and breeding and consumption eggs from a location with birds. The ban also applies to bird manure and used litter, and to other animals and animal products from poultry farms.​

Other national measures

National measures apply, such as a ban on visiting bird habitats of risk birds, unless this is necessary. Risk birds include domesticated gallinaceous birds (such as chickens), waterfowl and flightless birds.

Due to the outbreak in Renswoude on November 11, the containment and shielding obligation was reinstated for regions 7 and 10. The containment and shielding obligation now applies again to the whole of the Netherlands.​

Traceability research

In the context of the contamination at this location, a tracing investigation into high-risk contacts is being conducted as usual. If necessary, additional measures will be taken based on the results of the investigation. These possible additional measures will be reported via an update in this press release and via the online channels of the Ministry of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality (LNV).​

Today's announcement - along with recent increases in poultry farm outbreaks across Europe and in North America (see chart below) - is a reminder of just how much HPAI H5 there is in the environment, being carried by both migratory and non-migratory birds.



​
This fall return of avian flu also raises the risks to non-avian species, including household pets like dogs and cats, who may encounter infected birds (or contaminated environments) outside the home.

While the risks of pet owners contracting avian flu from their cat (or dog) remains low, it is not zero. The CDC maintains a website for pet owners which has the following advice.

Pet Owners
​

If your domestic animals (e.g., cats or dogs) go outside and could potentially eat or be exposed to sick or dead birds infected with bird flu viruses, or an environment contaminated with bird flu virus, they could become infected with bird flu. While it’s unlikely that you would get sick with bird flu through direct contact with your infected pet, it is possible.​

For example, in 2016, the spread of bird flu from a cat to a person was reported in NYC The person who was infected [2.29 MB, 4 pages] was a veterinarian who had mild flu symptoms after prolonged exposure to sick cats without using personal protective equipment.​

If your pet is showing signs of illness compatible with bird flu virus infectionand has been exposed to infected (sick or dead) wild birds/poultry, you should monitor your health for signs of fever or infection.
​

Take precautions to prevent the spread of bird flu.
​

As a general precaution, people should avoid direct contact with wild birds and observe wild birds only from a distance, whenever possible. People should also avoid contact between their pets (e.g., pet birds, dogs and cats) with wild birds.
​

Don’t touch sick or dead birds, their feces or litter, or any surface or water source (e.g., ponds, waterers, buckets, pans, troughs) that might be contaminated with their saliva, feces, or any other bodily fluids without wearing personal protective equipment (PPE). More information about specific precautions to take for preventing the spread of bird flu viruses between animals and people is available at Prevention and Antiviral Treatment of Bird Flu Viruses in People.
​

Additional information about the appropriate PPE to wear is available at Backyard Flock Owners: Take Steps to Protect Yourself from Avian Influenza​

​

 

[Shiloh]

Source: https://www.scherpenzeelsekrant.nl/...griepvirus-kippen-renswoude-is-nieuwe-variant

Bird flu virus chickens Renswoude is a new variant
November 17, 2023 at 12:45 PM Animals

RENSWOUDE/WAGENINGEN (ANP) The bird flu virus that was found in the middle of this month on a laying hen farm in Renswoude is a new variant, says Wageningen Bioveterinary Research (WBVR). However, it is related to the H5N1 virus that has caused many outbreaks among poultry since 2021. It is not yet known how pathogenic or contagious the new virus variant is for poultry.

“It is actually an old acquaintance in a new guise and this could be the harbinger of something worse,” explains WBVR researcher Nancy Beerens. Since November, an increase in the mortality of ducks and geese has been observed, her organization reports. “Genetic analyzes show that the dead wild birds found are also infected with the new HPAI H5N1 virus variant.”

The wild birds can further spread the variant. Additional danger can be caused by birds that come to spend the winter here. According to Beerens, they like to wander around farms.

The Ministry of Agriculture has already announced a new housing obligation.​

 

[Lance]

Netherlands - High pathogenicity avian influenza viruses (poultry) (Inf. with) - Follow up report 1


GENERAL INFORMATION

COUNTRY/TERRITORY OR ZONE
COUNTRY/TERRITORY

ANIMAL TYPE
TERRESTRIAL

DISEASE CATEGORY
Listed disease

EVENT ID
5331

DISEASE
High pathogenicity avian influenza viruses (poultry) (Inf. with)

CAUSAL AGENT
Highly pathogenic avian influenza virus

GENOTYPE / SEROTYPE / SUBTYPE
H5N1

START DATE
2023/11/11

REASON FOR NOTIFICATION
Recurrence of an eradicated disease

DATE OF LAST OCCURRENCE
2023/08/31

CONFIRMATION DATE
2023/11/11

EVENT STATUS
On-going

END DATE - SELF-DECLARATION

NO REPORT INFORMATION

REPORT NUMBER
Follow-up report 1

REPORT ID
FUR_164016

REPORT REFERENCE
HPAI H5N1 2023/2024-0

REPORT DATE
2023/11/22

REPORT STATUS
Validated

NO EVOLUTION REPORT


EPIDEMIOLOGY

SOURCE OF EVENT OR ORIGIN OF INFECTION

• Unknown or inconclusive

EPIDEMIOLOGICAL COMMENTS


QUANTITATIVE DATA SUMMARY

MEASURING UNIT
Animal
SpeciesSusceptibleCasesDeathsKilled and Disposed ofSlaughtered/ Killed for commercial useVaccinated Birds (DOMESTIC)NEW1806617400TOTAL65080106416503900

DIAGNOSTIC DETAILS

CLINICAL SIGNS
YES

METHOD OF DIAGNOSTIC
Clinical, Diagnostic test

Real-time polymerase chain reaction (real-time PCR)	Wageningen Bioveterinary Research WBVR	Birds	1	2023/11/11	2023/11/11	Positive

​https://wahis.woah.org/#/in-review/5331

 

[kiwibird]

https://www.jpost.com/health-and-wellness/article-773983
Same event as above but in news format with a little more information.

​​​​​​A new variant of the H5N1 subtype of highly pathogenic avian influenza has been spotted in the Netherlands, the Wageningen Bioveterinary Research Institute at Wageningen University reported on Thursday.
The variant was spotted in Renswoude in the central Netherlands. It is similar to other versions of the H5N1 subtype that has been spreading in Europe and the Americas since 2021, but includes a new version of the PB1 gene segment in the virus. The new PB1 segment seems to be the result of the virus mixing with a low pathogenic version of avian influenza, according to the research institute.
The new variant has also been spotted in several dead wild ducks and geese found in the Netherlands since November. It is unclear as of yet if the reassortment of the PB1 segment has changed any properties of the virus, such as pathogenicity, transmissibility, severity, etc.
​