Middle Dutch – Bird flu has been diagnosed in several poultry farms in the Hollands Midden region over the past few weeks. The Dutch Food and Consumer Safety Authority (NVWA) has culled the birds. This reduces the risk of further spread of the avian influenza virus. The GGD was also present to provide information on infection prevention measures.
bird flu
Bird flu also sometimes leads to ailments in humans. The GGD protects the poultry farmer and employees involved, but also the cleaners of the NVWA against this disease and its spread. We offer preventative treatment with virus inhibitors and flu vaccination.
The flu vaccination protects against the common winter flu and reduces the chance of people experiencing a bird flu infection and a common winter flu at the same time. If both infections occur in a person at the same time, a new type of virus can arise. We want to prevent it.
We also keep an eye on the poultry farmer and employees involved who are exposed to sick or dead birds. We test these people for symptoms that could indicate an infection with the flu version.
What can you do?
· Do not touch sick or dead wild (aquatic) birds.
As a precaution, keep your dog on a leash in places where dead waterfowl may lie. This way you prevent your dog from coming into contact with infected birds;
· Can you find a dead wild bird or several dead wild birds in one place? Report it to NVWA.
More information and links are available at our website.
