2023-12-01 15:41:46
An outbreak of highly pathogenic avian flu has been observed on a farm in Diksmuide (West Flanders), the Federal Agency for the Safety of the Food Chain (Afsca) announced in a press release on Friday. The poultry concerned will be euthanized and a 3 kilometer protection zone has been established around the outbreak.
In this zone, anyone keeping birds or poultry is required to protect them by ensuring that they cannot come into contact with wild birds. Chicken coops must be covered with nets and the animals must be fed inside. Anyone detecting signs of illness among their poultry or birds should consult a veterinarian.
In addition, a so-called “surveillance” zone is set up within a radius of ten kilometers around the outbreak. All poultry owners (including individuals and hobby breeders) have an obligation to protect these animals.
In general, when breeders notice an increase in mortality, or any other symptom linked to the disease, they should contact their veterinarian immediately, warns the Federal Agency for the Safety of the Food Chain.
The confirmation of the highly pathogenic nature of this outbreak of avian flu by the Sciensano Public Health Institute also means that Belgium loses its status as a free country at international level.
Afsca specifies, however, that no infected wild birds have been found in Belgium over the last two months and that the last infection in a poultry farm dates back to February of this year.
Individuals finding a dead or sick bird during a walk are invited to report it to the free number 0800/99 777. However, it is recommended not to touch it; the animal will be taken care of and examined.
Avian Influenza (AI) or bird flu is a highly contagious viral disease to which all bird species are likely susceptible. There is no scientific indication that this H5 virus is also dangerous for humans.
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