Avian flu outbreaks prompt national indoor shelter order

Three recent outbreaks of bird flu have led Agriculture Secretary Silvio Erkens to order farmers to keep their poultry indoors.

Two of these outbreaks occurred in Groningen and one in North Holland. Wild birds, which are currently migrating south, have also been found to carry the disease.

“It is important to limit contact between kept birds and potentially infected wild birds as much as possible,” Erkens told broadcaster NOS. “In this way, we are doing everything possible to prevent new outbreaks. »

Bird lovers are not required to comply with the order, but they must protect their birds in aviaries or other shelters. All non-essential visitors are also prohibited from entering areas where birds are kept.

Consumers

Although poultry farmers are being hit hard, the price and availability of poultry has remained relatively stable.

“Prices have been quite high in recent months, so they are stable at the moment,” says Babak Sadeghi, owner of Chris Kip at Amsterdam’s Albert Cuyp Market. “But rising transportation and gasoline prices have affected suppliers and deliveries.”

Avian flu has also been detected in Denmark, Germany, the United Kingdom and elsewhere.

Erkens advocates compulsory vaccination of laying hens against avian flu.