Avian influenza was the most notable outbreak of zoonoses in 2021. In October of that year, the Netherlands faced the start of the largest avian influenza outbreak since 2003. This is evident from the state’s annual report. of the zoonoses of the RIVM and the NVWA. .
Prior to 2021, avian influenza outbreaks occurred mainly in winter during the arrival of migratory birds in the Netherlands. Since October 2021, the virus has continued to circulate among wild birds and poultry in the Netherlands, and there are now infections throughout the year.
In 2021, the avian flu virus was found in 263 dead wild birds. This involved various species of geese, but also other water birds and birds of prey. In 2021, no one will be infected with avian flu in the Netherlands. However, some wild mammals have been infected in the Netherlands, such as foxes.
Some zoonoses were less common in 2021 than in the years before the corona outbreak. For example, there have been far fewer reports of people infected with the bacterium Salmonella or Campylobacter. Presumably, measures against the spread of Covid-19 have also contributed to fewer cases of some zoonoses.
Each year, RIVM makes an overview of the most important zoonoses in the Netherlands. This mainly concerns zoonoses that GGD doctors or NVWA vets. It describes the frequency with which these zoonoses occur in the Netherlands. Policy makers and professionals, such as governments or GGDs, can use this information to take action if needed.
Of Status of zoonoses will be published on a website for the first time this year and no longer as a report.
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