The virus has been circulating among wild birds for several months, but the Namur region is currently at the heart of the epidemic. Since the beginning of February, corpses of seagulls and pigeons were discovered at the La Plante lock, at the Jambes marina and at the Grands-malades lock in Beez.
“According to the analyzes carried out on around sixty birds, they were indeed victims of avian flu” confirms Nicolas Yernaux, spokesman for the Public Service of Wallonia. “From seasonal, the virus becomes endemic”.
Caution and preventive measures
Since October 5, professional breeders have already been required to confine their poultry. The measure therefore remains in force.
For individuals, confinement is not mandatory, but if you have chickens at home, a few rules of caution are in order.
“We recommend not to feed the animals outside to prevent other birds from mingling with them and they may be contaminated. If your pet, your dog for example, is found near a dead bird, it is caution that must prevail, it must be avoided that it comes into contact with a bird that is suspected of being infected. Foxes have already been infected in eating sick or dead birds of bird flu.
For its part, the FASFC also advises individuals to take preventive measures for poultry. If you keep chickens or birds at home, consider covering your chicken coop with netting and not leaving the water trough outside.
A suspicious bird corpse? call him 1718
If you find a suspicious bird corpse, avoid touching it and call 1718, the toll-free number for Wallonia, to report the case and receive the instructions to follow by telephone.
In Brussels, avian flu was detected in four black-headed gulls by the Sciensano Public Health Institute, found dead in the municipalities of Anderlecht, Forest and Laeken.
