(Belgium, 26th) An outbreak of avian influenza has occurred at a farm in the northern Belgian province of Antwerp, leading to the culling of about 76,000 poultry.
The Belgian Federal Food Safety Agency (FASFC) issued an announcement on the 25th, stating that the affected farm is located in the border area between Antwerp Province and the Netherlands. To prevent the spread of the epidemic, all poultry at the farm have been culled.
The Belgian Federal Food Safety Agency (FASFC) issued an announcement on the 25th, stating that the affected farm is located in the border area between Antwerp Province and the Netherlands. To prevent the spread of the epidemic, all poultry at the farm have been culled.
According to reports by Belgian Flemish Public Broadcasting, about 76,000 poultry at the affected farm have been culled.
The announcement pointed out that within a 3-kilometer radius of the affected farm, all poultry and other birds must be kept in isolation; within a 10-kilometer radius, all poultry must be kept in isolation.
This is the second outbreak of avian influenza in Belgium this week. On October 22, the FASFC reported that farms in both West Flanders (western Belgium) and Liège (eastern Belgium) experienced avian influenza outbreaks. In recent weeks, the number of wild birds infected with avian influenza in Belgium has also been increasing.
In response to the epidemic, on October 23rd, the FASFC announced that, effective immediately, all poultry on Belgian farms must be kept indoors and not be allowed to graze outdoors; farmers must feed poultry inside and prevent them from drinking rainwater, surface water, or other water sources that can be easily contaminated by the avian influenza virus.
In the past month, neighboring countries such as the Netherlands, Germany, and France have also experienced avian influenza outbreaks. The Netherlands, in particular, as a major exporter of poultry products, reported two cases of highly pathogenic avian influenza on farms since October, resulting in the culling of over 230,000 poultry. Currently, a nationwide order has been issued in the Netherlands for all poultry to be kept in isolation, including birds owned by avian hobbyists, and all exhibitions of susceptible poultry such as chickens, ducks, and geese are prohibited.
To curb the spread of the epidemic, more than 200,000 chickens, ducks, geese, and turkeys have also been culled in German farms since this autumn alone.
The announcement pointed out that within a 3-kilometer radius of the affected farm, all poultry and other birds must be kept in isolation; within a 10-kilometer radius, all poultry must be kept in isolation.
This is the second outbreak of avian influenza in Belgium this week. On October 22, the FASFC reported that farms in both West Flanders (western Belgium) and Liège (eastern Belgium) experienced avian influenza outbreaks. In recent weeks, the number of wild birds infected with avian influenza in Belgium has also been increasing.
In response to the epidemic, on October 23rd, the FASFC announced that, effective immediately, all poultry on Belgian farms must be kept indoors and not be allowed to graze outdoors; farmers must feed poultry inside and prevent them from drinking rainwater, surface water, or other water sources that can be easily contaminated by the avian influenza virus.
In the past month, neighboring countries such as the Netherlands, Germany, and France have also experienced avian influenza outbreaks. The Netherlands, in particular, as a major exporter of poultry products, reported two cases of highly pathogenic avian influenza on farms since October, resulting in the culling of over 230,000 poultry. Currently, a nationwide order has been issued in the Netherlands for all poultry to be kept in isolation, including birds owned by avian hobbyists, and all exhibitions of susceptible poultry such as chickens, ducks, and geese are prohibited.
To curb the spread of the epidemic, more than 200,000 chickens, ducks, geese, and turkeys have also been culled in German farms since this autumn alone.