71,000 chickens to be culled after bird flu outbreak in the Netherlands

NETHERLANDS – The Netherlands has confirmed its first outbreak of bird flu since March, prompting authorities to order the culling of about 71,000 chickens at a poultry farm in the northern part of the country. 

The detection, which reignites fears of seasonal flare-ups across Europe, comes amid a wider resurgence of avian influenza affecting poultry operations from North America to Eastern Europe.

The Dutch government said the outbreak does not currently justify a nationwide indoor housing order for poultry, but an expert group on animal diseases will convene soon to assess the risk and determine further measures. 

Officials noted that while containment is underway, the case underscores how avian flu remains a persistent threat to animal health and trade stability.

The Dutch case follows a similar detection in Denmark, where authorities announced plans to cull 150,000 chickens after the highly contagious H5N1 virus was found in a flock on the Jutland peninsula. 

The Danish Veterinary and Food Administration said it was the country’s first case since April, when earlier restrictions on poultry farming were lifted. As a precaution, poultry and captive birds must once again be kept indoors or under cover to curb further infection risks.

Elsewhere in Europe, Poland reported an outbreak of highly pathogenic H5N1 last month at two northern poultry farms, killing around 4,000 birds. 

The infections, confirmed on a goose and a turkey farm in the town of Susz, were disclosed by Polish authorities to the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH). 

In the wake of the incident, Poland reached a new trade agreement with China to restart poultry exports that had been suspended during previous outbreaks.

Canada’s ostrich controversy

Across the Atlantic, avian flu has also sparked a legal and ethical battle in Canada, where the Supreme Court issued a temporary order halting the culling of about 400 ostriches at Universal Ostrich Farms in Edgewood, British Columbia. 

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency had ordered the destruction of the birds after two tested positive for avian flu.

The farm’s co-owners, Karen Espersen and Dave Bilinski, argued that the ostriches possess natural immunity and that killing them would “permanently destroy unique genetics and a specialised research-based business.” 

Their lawyer, Umar Sheikh, said he was “very, very happy” with the temporary stay but acknowledged the fight was “a very uphill battle.”

The agency said it would comply with the court order but maintained that its “stamping out policy” remains vital for controlling animal diseases.

The new cases in the Netherlands, Denmark, and Poland, alongside ongoing disputes in Canada, highlight how avian flu continues to challenge both disease control measures and animal welfare standards worldwide.

In recent years, severe outbreaks have led to the culling of millions of chickens, turkeys, and other birds across the globe, driving up food prices and disrupting poultry supply chains.

With colder months approaching, veterinary authorities warn that vigilance remains essential to prevent yet another costly wave of infections.

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