The Federal Agency for the Safety of the Food Chain (Afsca) identified 18 outbreaks in commercial poultry farms, 1 outbreak in an animal park, 10 among amateur breeders, and 220 infected wild birds across the country in 2022. Wild ducks, geese, and gulls were particularly affected, with nearly 40 infected raptors also found.
“In addition, new outbreaks continue to be discovered in 2023”, said Afsca and the federal Minister of Agriculture, David Clarinval. Avian influenza, or bird flu, is a highly contagious viral disease to which all bird species are susceptible. So far, there is no scientific indication that this H5 virus is also dangerous for humans.
Last year, avian flu generated nearly 4 million euros in operating costs for the Agency. A similar sum (nearly 3.9 million euros) was released by the Health Fund for the fight against animal diseases as compensation. This solidarity fund, which is based on the principle of co-financing by all producers and players in the poultry sector, makes it possible to compensate poultry farmers affected by outbreaks of contagious poultry diseases such as avian influenza and Newcastle.
Biosecurity is a priority for the Afsca and must be further improved in the future. Therefore, the Agency is working with partners on an IT tool to carry out audits and thus improve biosecurity, as is already the case in the pig sector. When an outbreak is identified, areas where additional measures apply are systematically established. The current zones and measures can be consulted on the Agency’s website (www.favv-afsca.be).
Currently, every professional keeper in Belgium is obliged to feed the animals indoors or protected under nets. This way, infected wild birds are less attracted to the enclosure. The authorities strongly advise all private owners of hens and birds to install a net on the course as a preventive measure, all year round. Farmers should contact their veterinarian immediately if they notice increased mortality in their animals or any other symptoms of disease. Walkers who notice a dead wild bird are invited to report it via the free number 0800/99.777.
It is important to note that almost all the epidemics observed on our territory are “primary infections”. This means that these are infections directly linked to wild birds and not to the circulation of the virus between poultry farms. This is important, because it means that the measures imposed by Afsca and the preventive and biosecurity measures applied by the poultry sector effectively contribute to preventing infections and the spread of avian flu.
For David Clarinval, the situation can be described as alarming. “In Europe, the number of outbreaks in poultry farms during the 2021-2022 season is almost double that of the 2020-2021 season. We observe the same trend in Belgium. Despite a strengthening of biosecurity rules, we unfortunately see that the disease is no longer seasonal, but is becoming endemic,” he laments.
In terms of a possible response, Belgium supports the development of a vaccine option at European level, for which research is ongoing. Our authorities will endeavor to place this theme as one of the central subjects of the Belgian Presidency of the European Union in 2024. “However, this vaccine will only be effective in addition to current control measures. I therefore invite all actors to strictly respect the preventive measures,” the minister urges.
In 2022, no less than 29 outbreaks of avian flu were recorded in Belgium. The Federal Agency for the Safety of the Food Chain (Afsca) identified 18 outbreaks in commercial poultry farms, 1 outbreak in an animal park, 10 among amateur breeders, and 220 infected wild birds across the country. Wild ducks, geese, and gulls were particularly affected, with nearly 40 infected raptors also found.
“In addition, new outbreaks continue to be discovered in 2023,” said Afsca and the federal Minister of Agriculture, David Clarinval. Avian influenza, or bird flu, is a highly contagious viral disease to which all bird species are susceptible. So far, there is no scientific indication that this H5 virus is also dangerous for humans.
Last year, avian flu generated nearly 4 million euros in operating costs for the Agency. A similar sum (nearly 3.9 million euros) was released by the Health Fund for the fight against animal diseases as compensation. This solidarity fund, which is based on the principle of co-financing by all producers and players in the poultry sector, makes it possible to compensate poultry farmers affected by outbreaks of contagious poultry diseases such as avian influenza and Newcastle.
Biosecurity is a priority for the Afsca and must be further improved in the future. Therefore, the Agency is working with partners on an IT tool to carry out audits and thus improve biosecurity, as is already the case in the pig sector. When an outbreak is identified, areas where additional measures apply are systematically established. The current zones and measures can be consulted on the Agency’s website (www.favv-afsca.be).
Currently, every professional keeper in Belgium is obliged to feed the animals indoors or protected under nets. This way, infected wild birds are less attracted to the enclosure. The authorities strongly advise all private owners of hens and birds to install a net on the course as a preventive measure, all year round. Farmers should contact their veterinarian immediately if they notice increased mortality in their animals or any other symptoms of disease. Walkers who notice a dead wild bird are invited to report it via the free number 0800/99.777.
It is important to note that almost all the epidemics observed on our territory are “primary infections”. This means that these are infections directly linked to wild birds and not to the circulation of the virus between poultry farms. This is important, because it means that the measures imposed by Afsca and the preventive and biosecurity measures applied by the poultry sector effectively contribute to preventing infections and the spread of avian flu.
For David Clarinval, the situation can be described as alarming. “In Europe, the number of outbreaks in poultry farms during the 2021-2022 season is almost double that of the 2020-2021 season. We observe the same trend in Belgium. Despite a strengthening of biosecurity rules, we unfortunately see that the disease is no longer seasonal, but is becoming endemic,” he laments.
In terms of a possible response, Belgium supports the development of a vaccine option at European level, for which research is ongoing. Our authorities will endeavor to place this theme as one of the central subjects of the Belgian Presidency of the European Union in 2024. “However, this vaccine will only be effective in addition to current control measures. I therefore invite all actors to strictly respect the preventive measures,” the minister urges.
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