14 november 2020
11:47
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From Sunday, November 15, everyone who keeps chickens or other poultry must house or screen them.
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A rule that already exists for companies is now also being introduced for private individuals. In addition, all collections of poultry and birds are also more strictly regulated. These measures come because it was established on Friday in a bird shelter in Ostend that three wild birds were infected with the H5N8 bird flu virus, the federal food safety agency (FAVV) reports on Saturday.
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Since 1 November, stricter measures have already been in force in our country for professional poultry and hobby keepers. At the end of October, various infections with bird flu had been diagnosed in wild birds and poultry in the Netherlands.
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Bird flu virus
The bird flu virus was diagnosed in three wild birds in the bird sanctuary in Ostend on 13 November. This proves that the H5N8 avian flu virus is now also present in wild birds in Belgium. On the advice of the FASFC, Minister of Agriculture David Clarinval has therefore taken additional preventive measures that are mandatory for all private keepers of poultry and birds in Belgium. These include all people who keep chickens or ornamental birds in their garden, but also pigeon fanciers.
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Bird flu is a highly contagious viral disease to which all bird species are likely to be susceptible. There are no indications that the virus is also harmful to humans. The consumer does not run any risk either. Meat and eggs from poultry can be eaten in complete safety, according to the FASFC.
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