Low pathogenic virus found in Dutch farm
August 2nd, 2006
A low pathogenic form of bird flu virus has been found on a poultry farm in the Dutch region of Gelderse Vallei, as the agriculture ministry reported on Tuesday. Although the strain is believed to be much less dangerous than the one which caused the 2003 outbreak, the farm has been closed and health authorities are monitoring the area. The Netherlands is one of the world’s biggest poultry exporters and Europe’s second biggest producer, behind France. Authorities say the virus is not an H5 variant, but have not disclosed any other details. In 2003 the Netherlands was hit by an H7N7 avian influenza epidemic. 30 million birds were culled as a result (about a third of the Dutch poultry population). 90 people were also infected, and a veterinarian even died. Migratory birds are believed to be at the heart of this outbreak, as was the case with the 2003 disease.