Originally from: Farmtalking
                        
Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza Virus HPAI H7N7 Epidemic
 
1. Spread in The Netherlands, Belgium, Germany

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May 9th – Suspected case of new influenza virus infection in Germany
A very serious suspected case of AI has been found on a farm in Schwalmtal, region Viersen, in the German state of NordRhein Westfalen (NRW). The first investigations of the veterinary authorities lead to a fear that AI is now also in Germany. An initial test has confirmed the clincial symptoms. Official confirmation will follow in 7 days. The farm is reported to have 32,000 broiler chickens, all of which will be destroyed. There will be a complete standstill for 72 hours for all poultry, breeding eggs and manure in NRW has been ordered. The standstill does not affect all poultry products.

Near the affected poultry unit are seven other farms (mainly smaller) which will be preventatively slaughtered. All poultry in a 3 km zone around the suspect case will be destroyed. (source: PDIC correspondent)

May 7th – Update on avian influenza in the Netherlands and Belgium
The Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health yesterday discussed again the avian influenza situation in the Netherlands and Belgium. Since the beginning of the outbreak in the Netherlands on 28 February, 250 infected holdings have been confirmed and another 10 are seriously suspected to be contaminated. In total, approximately 25 million birds have been culled in the Netherlands. On 16 April the disease also spread to Belgium where to date 8 outbreaks have been confirmed. In total, about 2,3 million birds have been culled. The last outbreak in Belgium dates from 24 April. The Committee voted in favour of a European Commission proposal to extend until 16 May the existing measures to prevent the spreading of the disease and to eradicate it. No live poultry, hatching eggs and fresh, unprocessed poultry manure or litter may be exported to other Member States or third countries and, with some derogations, no live poultry and hatching eggs may be transported within the Netherlands or Belgium. The situation will be reviewed at the next meeting of the Committee on Thursday 15 May. (source: European Commission)