Authorities in The Netherlands have culled some 190,000 chickens after a highly-contagious strain of bird flu broke out at at least two poultry farms.

Health workers slaughtered around 100,000 hens at a poultry farm at Hekendorp outside Gouda while 90,000 chicks were culled at Witmarsum, in northern Friesland.

In both cases "a highly-contagious strain of the H5 variant" was suspected, the agriculture ministry said Sunday in a statement.

Seasonal bird flu has been detected at various farms around the Netherlands since October, blamed mainly on migratory birds.

Dutch Agriculture Minister Carola Schouten on October 23 imposed preventative indoor containment on all commercial poultry farms after two dead swans were discovered carrying the highly contagious H5N8 variety of bird flu.

The new measures come as the Netherlands also battles a second wave of Covid-19 which continued to infect around 6,000 people a day.

Authorities in The Netherlands have culled some 190,000 chickens after a highly-contagious strain of bird flu broke out at at least two poultry farms. Health workers slaughtered around 100,000 hens at a poultry farm at Hekendorp outside Gouda while 90,000 chicks were culled at Witmarsum, in northern Friesland.

Authorities in The Netherlands have culled some 190,000 chickens after a highly-contagious strain of bird flu broke out at at least two poultry farms. Health workers slaughtered around 100,000 hens at a poultry farm at Hekendorp outside Gouda while 90,000 chicks were culled at Witmarsum, in northern Friesland. In both cases "a highly-contagious strain of the H5 variant" was suspected, the agriculture ministry said Sunday in a statement. Seasonal bird flu has been detected at various farms around the Netherlands since October, blamed mainly on migratory birds. Dutch Agriculture Minister Carola Schouten on October 23 imposed preventative indoor containment on all commercial poultry farms after two dead swans were discovered carrying the highly contagious H5N8 variety of bird flu. The new measures come as the Netherlands also battles a second wave of Covid-19 which continued to infect around 6,000 people a day.

Dutch cull almost 200,000 chickens after bird flu outbreak

Besides the COVID-19 pandemic there are now reports of the bird flu outbreak in different parts of the Europe & in Belgium not just humans, but even birds have been put under a strict lockdown. WION brings you a report.

Spate of bird flu outbreak in Europe, Swans go into quarantine in Belgium

The Philippines has detected an outbreak of avian flu in a northern province after tests showed presence of the highly infectious H5N6 subtype of the influenza, a&nbsp;virus in a quail farm, the country's farm minister said on Monday.

Agriculture Secretary William Dar said the bird flu virus, the same strain that hit some local poultry farms in 2017, was detected in Jaen municipality in Nueva Ecija province, where about 1,500 quails had died on one farm alone.

A total of 12,000 quails have been destroyed and buried to prevent further infections, Dar said, citing field reports.

Also see:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science-tech/worlds-smallest-dinosaurs-skull-found-encased-in-99-million-year-old-amber-285787">World's smallest dinosaur's skull found encased in 99-million-year-old amber</a>

"We are on top of the situation," he said. "Surveillance around the 1-km and 7-km radius will be carried out immediately to ensure that the disease has not progressed around the said perimeter."

Animal quarantine checkpoints have also been set up to restrict the movement of all live domestic birds to and from the quarantine area, he said.

"We would like to emphasise that this is a single case affecting one quail farm only," Dar said.

Also see:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/parrots-get-probability-use-stats-to-make-choices-study-284243">Parrots get probability, use stats to make choices: Study</a>

Dr. Arlene Vytiaco, technical spokeswoman for avian flu at the agriculture department, said that while there is a possibility of transmission to humans through excretion and secretion, "the chances are very slim".

"There is also zero mortality rate," she said.

Dar said his department and the local government were jointly conducting an investigation and contact-tracing to determine the source of infection.

Also read:<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science-tech/fossilized-skin-of-43-million-year-old-penguin-found-in-argentina-286328">&nbsp;Fossilized skin of 43-million-year-old penguin found in Argentina</a>

To ensure steady domestic supply of poultry, he said the transport of day-old chicks, hatching eggs and chicken meat will be allowed provided the source farms have tested negative for bird flu.

The Philippines has detected an outbreak of avian flu in a northern province after tests showed presence of the highly infectious H5N6 subtype of the influenza, a virus in a quail farm, the country's farm minister said on Monday.

The Philippines has detected an outbreak of avian flu in a northern province after tests showed presence of the highly infectious H5N6 subtype of the influenza, a virus in a quail farm, the country's farm minister said on Monday. Agriculture Secretary William Dar said the bird flu virus, the same strain that hit some local poultry farms in 2017, was detected in Jaen municipality in Nueva Ecija province, where about 1,500 quails had died on one farm alone. A total of 12,000 quails have been destroyed and buried to prevent further infections, Dar said, citing field reports. Also see: World's smallest dinosaur's skull found encased in 99-million-year-old amber "We are on top of the situation," he said. "Surveillance around the 1-km and 7-km radius will be carried out immediately to ensure that the disease has not progressed around the said perimeter." Animal quarantine checkpoints have also been set up to restrict the movement of all live domestic birds to and from the quarantine area, he said. "We would like to emphasise that this is a single case affecting one quail farm only," Dar said. Also see: Parrots get probability, use stats to make choices: Study Dr. Arlene Vytiaco, technical spokeswoman for avian flu at the agriculture department, said that while there is a possibility of transmission to humans through excretion and secretion, "the chances are very slim". "There is also zero mortality rate," she said. Dar said his department and the local government were jointly conducting an investigation and contact-tracing to determine the source of infection. Also read: Fossilized skin of 43-million-year-old penguin found in Argentina To ensure steady domestic supply of poultry, he said the transport of day-old chicks, hatching eggs and chicken meat will be allowed provided the source farms have tested negative for bird flu.

Philippines detects bird flu outbreak in quail farm

Bird&nbsp;flu&nbsp;has been detected in&nbsp;turkeys in eastern&nbsp;Poland, authorities said on Wednesday, and local media reported that the&nbsp;outbreak&nbsp;could require up to 40,000&nbsp;birds to be slaughtered.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/president-putin-has-lied-about-poland-on-numerous-occasions-pm-mateusz-morawiecki-271197">Poland</a>, Europe's largest <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/china-lifts-restrictions-on-us-poultry-meat-imports-customs-262130">poultry</a> producer according to data from Eurostat, has not had an&nbsp;outbreak&nbsp;of&nbsp;bird&nbsp;flu&nbsp;since 2017.

Andrzej Danielak, president of Polish Association of Breeders and Poultry Producers, said that three&nbsp;farms&nbsp;might be affected, with up to 350,000&nbsp;birds at risk in a three-kilometre radius.

"Veterinary services are implementing virus eradication procedures in this situation," local authorities in Lubartowski county said in a press release issued on Tuesday, adding that the virus was a subtype of highly pathogenic H5N8&nbsp;bird&nbsp;flu&nbsp;that can also threaten people

The authorities said crisis meetings had been held, while footage from private broadcaster Polsat showed police cars blocking a road in the area.

Bird flu has been detected in turkeys in eastern Poland, authorities said on Wednesday, and local media reported that the outbreak could require up to 40,000 birds to be slaughtered.

Bird flu has been detected in turkeys in eastern Poland, authorities said on Wednesday, and local media reported that the outbreak could require up to 40,000 birds to be slaughtered. Poland, Europe's largest poultry producer according to data from Eurostat, has not had an outbreak of bird flu since 2017. Andrzej Danielak, president of Polish Association of Breeders and Poultry Producers, said that three farms might be affected, with up to 350,000 birds at risk in a three-kilometre radius. "Veterinary services are implementing virus eradication procedures in this situation," local authorities in Lubartowski county said in a press release issued on Tuesday, adding that the virus was a subtype of highly pathogenic H5N8 bird flu that can also threaten people The authorities said crisis meetings had been held, while footage from private broadcaster Polsat showed police cars blocking a road in the area.

Poland hit by bird flu outbreak on turkey farms

Following a bird flu scare in India, Saudi Arabia has decided to temporarily ban the imports of live birds, hatching eggs and chicks from India. The Saudi agriculture ministry confirmed the same on Thursday.

According to the Saudi Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture the ban was issued keeping in view the warning released by the Paris-based OIE.

The OIE report mentioned that the H5N8 virus was detected on December 26 among birds in a village called Dasarahalli near Bengaluru. The virus has killed close to 951 birds while others were culled.&nbsp;

The World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) cited a report from the Indian agriculture ministry stating that India had reported an outbreak of highly contagious bird flu virus near Bengaluru, Karnataka in January.

(With inputs from Reuters)

 
&nbsp;

The ban was issued keeping in view the warning released by the Paris-based OIE

Following a bird flu scare in India, Saudi Arabia has decided to temporarily ban the imports of live birds, hatching eggs and chicks from India. The Saudi agriculture ministry confirmed the same on Thursday. According to the Saudi Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture the ban was issued keeping in view the warning released by the Paris-based OIE. The OIE report mentioned that the H5N8 virus was detected on December 26 among birds in a village called Dasarahalli near Bengaluru. The virus has killed close to 951 birds while others were culled. The World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) cited a report from the Indian agriculture ministry stating that India had reported an outbreak of highly contagious bird flu virus near Bengaluru, Karnataka in January. (With inputs from Reuters)

Saudi Arabia temporarily bans poultry imports from India over bird flu scare

Japan&#39;s prefectural government today confirmed the existence of avian influenza at a poultry farm in Kagawa Prefecture.

The Kagawa prefectural government immediately ordered the culling of chickens. Reports said around 19,000 chickens in Sanuki were culled with the help of defense forces.

The local government has also restricted poultry and eggs in the area after reports emerged of &nbsp;55 chickens dieing of the avian flu. The government has also been carrying out disinfection in the area.

Chicken farming is the largest industry in the prefecture, the city produces 5 million egg-laying chickens, government data informed.&nbsp;

Japan&#39;s last outbreak of bird flu occurred in March last year. Between November 2016 and March 2017, Japan culled 1.67 million chickens due to the H5N6 strain, according to the Japanese ministry.

Japan's last outbreak of bird flu occurred in March last year

Japan's prefectural government today confirmed the existence of avian influenza at a poultry farm in Kagawa Prefecture. The Kagawa prefectural government immediately ordered the culling of chickens. Reports said around 19,000 chickens in Sanuki were culled with the help of defense forces. The local government has also restricted poultry and eggs in the area after reports emerged of 55 chickens dieing of the avian flu. The government has also been carrying out disinfection in the area. Chicken farming is the largest industry in the prefecture, the city produces 5 million egg-laying chickens, government data informed. Japan's last outbreak of bird flu occurred in March last year. Between November 2016 and March 2017, Japan culled 1.67 million chickens due to the H5N6 strain, according to the Japanese ministry.

Bird flu in Japan, 19,000 chickens culled

Maharashtra animal husbandry department has put districts on alert after Dasarahalli village in eastern Bengaluru reported a case of bird flu, media reports said.

The border area of Maharashtra and Karnataka are currently being monitored by the respective governments.&nbsp;

In an official statement, the Union agriculture ministry had said the National Institute of High Security Animal Diseases (NIHSAD) had confirmed on December 30 that the samples of H5 strain of avian influenza virus were found to be positive.

Officials have declared Dasarahalli as an &quot;infected zone&quot; and put a &nbsp;&quot;surveillance&quot; zone around the area in a 10-kilometre radius. A sanitation drive has also been started in the area.

Meat selling has been banned in the area with restrictions on the sale of eggs in order to prevent the spread of the deadly H5N1 virus.

&quot;On the directions of the Centre, the Karnataka government has notified the outbreak and initiated the control and containment operations,&quot; the statement said.

The bird flu virus had severely disrupted the poultry industry in Maharashtra in 2006. Several thousand birds were culled after bird flu was reported in Navapur village in Nandurbar district.

There were also reports of bird flu outbreak in West Bengal in at least 13 districts in 2008. The CPM government had ordered the culling of a large number of chickens and had targeted poultry birds and eggs to control the spread of the virus.

The virus was also reported in Kerala in 2014.

Officials have declared Dasarahalli as an "infected zone" and put a "surveillance" zone around the area in a 10-kilometre radius.

Maharashtra animal husbandry department has put districts on alert after Dasarahalli village in eastern Bengaluru reported a case of bird flu, media reports said. The border area of Maharashtra and Karnataka are currently being monitored by the respective governments. In an official statement, the Union agriculture ministry had said the National Institute of High Security Animal Diseases (NIHSAD) had confirmed on December 30 that the samples of H5 strain of avian influenza virus were found to be positive. Officials have declared Dasarahalli as an "infected zone" and put a "surveillance" zone around the area in a 10-kilometre radius. A sanitation drive has also been started in the area. Meat selling has been banned in the area with restrictions on the sale of eggs in order to prevent the spread of the deadly H5N1 virus. "On the directions of the Centre, the Karnataka government has notified the outbreak and initiated the control and containment operations," the statement said. The bird flu virus had severely disrupted the poultry industry in Maharashtra in 2006. Several thousand birds were culled after bird flu was reported in Navapur village in Nandurbar district. There were also reports of bird flu outbreak in West Bengal in at least 13 districts in 2008. The CPM government had ordered the culling of a large number of chickens and had targeted poultry birds and eggs to control the spread of the virus. The virus was also reported in Kerala in 2014.

Karnataka, Maharashtra on alert after bird flu virus confirmed in Bengaluru village

Russia has reported an outbreak of highly pathogenic H5N2 bird flu on a farm in the Kostromskaya Oblast region, the Paris-based World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) said on Friday.&nbsp;

The disease was detected on December&nbsp;17 and led to the culling of more than 660,000 birds, the OIE said citing a report from the Russian ministry of agriculture.&nbsp;

It did not specify the type of birds that were infected.

The statement did not specify the type of birds that were infected

Russia has reported an outbreak of highly pathogenic H5N2 bird flu on a farm in the Kostromskaya Oblast region, the Paris-based World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) said on Friday. The disease was detected on December 17 and led to the culling of more than 660,000 birds, the OIE said citing a report from the Russian ministry of agriculture. It did not specify the type of birds that were infected.

Russia reports outbreak of highly pathogenic H5N2 bird flu

Germany and Switzerland reported new outbreaks of a severe strain of bird flu on Saturday in the latest in a series of cases across Europe.

The H5N8 virus has also been found in Austria, Hungary, Poland, the Netherlands, Denmark and Croatia.

In Germany, the state of Schleswig-Holstein reported one case of bird flu confirmed at a farm where 30,000 chickens would now be culled. The state&#39;s agriculture ministry said an area of 3 square km (1.2 square miles) had been sealed off.

In Berlin, the federal agriculture minister, Christian Schmidt, said the government had set up a crisis management desk.

A second outbreak in Austria at a chicken farm in its western Vorarlberg province close to the German and Swiss borders was not yet clearly established following the analysis of a second sample, the provincial minister of agriculture said.

While samples taken on Thursday detected the virus, samples on Friday failed to deliver a clear result, minister Erich Schwaerzler said. &quot;I ordered new samples be taken for another analysis and I expect a clear result on Monday.&quot;

An Austrian poultry farm close to the chicken farm had tested positive for H5N8 on Friday.

A protection zone with a radius of at least 3 km and a surveillance zone with a radius of at least 10 km around the two holdings have been created to keep migrating birds from transmitting the disease to farm poultry.

Bird flu was also confirmed in dead birds along Lake Geneva in Switzerland on Saturday.

Austria and Switzerland earlier this week took steps to prevent the spread of the virus to domestic poultry after discovering the disease in wild ducks around Lake Constance.

&nbsp;

(Reuters)

At least 30,000 chickens will be culled in a farm in Schleswig-Holstein, Germany and another at a farm in Austria

Germany and Switzerland reported new outbreaks of a severe strain of bird flu on Saturday in the latest in a series of cases across Europe. The H5N8 virus has also been found in Austria, Hungary, Poland, the Netherlands, Denmark and Croatia. In Germany, the state of Schleswig-Holstein reported one case of bird flu confirmed at a farm where 30,000 chickens would now be culled. The state's agriculture ministry said an area of 3 square km (1.2 square miles) had been sealed off. In Berlin, the federal agriculture minister, Christian Schmidt, said the government had set up a crisis management desk. A second outbreak in Austria at a chicken farm in its western Vorarlberg province close to the German and Swiss borders was not yet clearly established following the analysis of a second sample, the provincial minister of agriculture said. While samples taken on Thursday detected the virus, samples on Friday failed to deliver a clear result, minister Erich Schwaerzler said. "I ordered new samples be taken for another analysis and I expect a clear result on Monday." An Austrian poultry farm close to the chicken farm had tested positive for H5N8 on Friday. A protection zone with a radius of at least 3 km and a surveillance zone with a radius of at least 10 km around the two holdings have been created to keep migrating birds from transmitting the disease to farm poultry. Bird flu was also confirmed in dead birds along Lake Geneva in Switzerland on Saturday. Austria and Switzerland earlier this week took steps to prevent the spread of the virus to domestic poultry after discovering the disease in wild ducks around Lake Constance. (Reuters)

New bird flu outbreaks reported in Germany and Switzerland

India&#39;s top court today rapped the Delhi government over the way &nbsp;garbage had been piled up in various places. The SC bench, headed by Justice Madan Lokur, said, &quot;45 metres of height of garbage in places are alarming.&quot;&nbsp;

&nbsp;

The apex court, expressing concern over increasing bird flu cases in the national capital, questioned the Aam Admi Party (AAP)-led state government over their plans were to clean the garbage. &quot;You have to plan for the future. You don&#39;t have to react to a situation,&quot; SC directed.

&nbsp;

While hearing the matter pertaining to suicide by parents of a child, who died due to vector-borne disease, the top court asked the government to convene a meeting of all stakeholders including the corporations and Delhi government on the issue of garbage disposal, Indian news agency ANI reported.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

According to a report in Indian news organisation, India Today&#39;s website, the apex court said: &quot;Do your MLAs (lawmakers) have no responsibilities? Every part of Delhi is covered by your MLAs, what are they doing? Your MLAs, instead of increasing their salaries, should start segregating garbage. The issue of segregation of solid waste is alarming.&quot;

&nbsp;

Meanwhile, as the national capital remains gripped with renewed bird flu scare, the Delhi government today said that regular monitoring is being done, adding that the medical card will be used at the entry gate of every mandi (wholesale marketplace) to curb the spread of the infection, Indian news agency ANI reported.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

&quot;We have taken few decisions in this regard. We&#39;ll make a medical card that will be used at the entry gate of every mandi (wholesale marketplace) to curb the spread the infection. Those trucks which don&#39;t have medical certificate will not be allowed to enter. Five officials, five doctors and five retailers committee will be formed who will continuously monitor the situation,&quot; Delhi development minister &nbsp;Gopal Rai was quoted as saying.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

The National Zoological Park in the city, was shut down temporarily on Wednesday, has reported fresh cases of deaths of pelican birds.

&nbsp;

The zoo was closed down after nine birds, including painted storks, ducks and pelicans died of avian influenza at its premises between October 14 and October 17. All the enclosures at the zoo are being currently inspected by a team of Central Zoo Authority.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

The Deer Park in Hauz Khas area was also shut down after it suspected that two birds found dead inside the park could be infected with bird flu.

&nbsp;

Around 100 more samples have been collected in the last two days from different parts of Delhi: Ghazipur, Okhla Bird Sanctuary, Najafgarh drain, Yamuna Biodiversity Park and the Central Park in Hauz Khas and sent to a specialised Regional Disease Diagnostic Laboratory in Jalandhar.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

(WION with inputs from ANI)&nbsp; 
&nbsp;

The apex court, expressing concern over increasing bird flu cases, questioned AAP govt about their plans to clean piled-up garbage

India's top court today rapped the Delhi government over the way garbage had been piled up in various places. The SC bench, headed by Justice Madan Lokur, said, "45 metres of height of garbage in places are alarming." The apex court, expressing concern over increasing bird flu cases in the national capital, questioned the Aam Admi Party (AAP)-led state government over their plans were to clean the garbage. "You have to plan for the future. You don't have to react to a situation," SC directed. While hearing the matter pertaining to suicide by parents of a child, who died due to vector-borne disease, the top court asked the government to convene a meeting of all stakeholders including the corporations and Delhi government on the issue of garbage disposal, Indian news agency ANI reported. According to a report in Indian news organisation, India Today's website, the apex court said: "Do your MLAs (lawmakers) have no responsibilities? Every part of Delhi is covered by your MLAs, what are they doing? Your MLAs, instead of increasing their salaries, should start segregating garbage. The issue of segregation of solid waste is alarming." Meanwhile, as the national capital remains gripped with renewed bird flu scare, the Delhi government today said that regular monitoring is being done, adding that the medical card will be used at the entry gate of every mandi (wholesale marketplace) to curb the spread of the infection, Indian news agency ANI reported. "We have taken few decisions in this regard. We'll make a medical card that will be used at the entry gate of every mandi (wholesale marketplace) to curb the spread the infection. Those trucks which don't have medical certificate will not be allowed to enter. Five officials, five doctors and five retailers committee will be formed who will continuously monitor the situation," Delhi development minister Gopal Rai was quoted as saying. The National Zoological Park in the city, was shut down temporarily on Wednesday, has reported fresh cases of deaths of pelican birds. The zoo was closed down after nine birds, including painted storks, ducks and pelicans died of avian influenza at its premises between October 14 and October 17. All the enclosures at the zoo are being currently inspected by a team of Central Zoo Authority. The Deer Park in Hauz Khas area was also shut down after it suspected that two birds found dead inside the park could be infected with bird flu. Around 100 more samples have been collected in the last two days from different parts of Delhi: Ghazipur, Okhla Bird Sanctuary, Najafgarh drain, Yamuna Biodiversity Park and the Central Park in Hauz Khas and sent to a specialised Regional Disease Diagnostic Laboratory in Jalandhar. (WION with inputs from ANI)

India's top court pulls up Delhi government, asks legislators to clean garbage amid bird flu scare

bird-flu

Bird Flu, News on Bird Flu, stories on Bird Flu, articles on Bird Flu, Bird Flu stories at Wion, Bird Flu news, Bird Flu latest news