Containment Obligation For Bird Flu Has Been Lifted Throughout The Netherlands

The obligation to shelter has been lifted throughout the Netherlands. The Ministry of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality (LNV) announced this after consultation with the Animal Diseases Expert Group. In recent weeks, the bird flu virus H5N1 has no longer been found in dead or living wild birds and poultry. On this basis, it has been decided to lift the housing obligation for the entire Netherlands.

Wageningen Bioveterinary Research examined 57 dead wild birds for the presence of the bird flu virus in the period between March 7 and April 22, 2024. None of these birds tested positive. Erasmus MC checked 400 live birds for the presence of bird flu. These birds also tested negative.

Last month, March 26, 2024, the shelter-in-place requirement was lifted in a large part of the Netherlands. This measure did not lead to new outbreaks. The bird flu situation is also calm in the rest of Europe, according to the Animal Diseases Expert Group for Bird Flu. The expert group expects that the current situation will continue in the coming month, resulting in little virus circulating among wild birds.

Based on the assessments of the expert group, the Ministry of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality has decided to immediately cancel the sheltering obligation and the shielding obligation.