World · Europe · 1 hr ago
Bird flu continues year-round in wild birds for fifth year in the Netherlands
Bird flu has been found at a poultry farm in Friesland, in the Netherlands, where thousands of laying hens were culled.
The virus has circulated among wild birds throughout the year for five years in a row.
It is adapting better to wild birds, and infections among them are becoming more severe.
The government ordered chickens across the country indoors again last week, a step it takes practically every year.
That order puts free-range poultry farmers under pressure, because their chickens are kept inside and they worry about damage to their image.
The virus continues to circulate among wild birds, and the sources give no further details about what happens next.
The bird flu virus has circulated year-round among wild birds in the Netherlands for the fifth consecutive year.
The virus is adapting increasingly well to wild birds, and its spread is becoming more intense.
The government ordered all chickens indoors the previous week, a measure that is imposed almost every year.
Thousands of laying hens were culled at a poultry farm in Friesland after bird flu was detected.
- Who
- Wild birds and poultry farmers in the Netherlands are affected.
- What
- Bird flu has circulated year-round among wild birds for five consecutive years. Thousands of laying hens were culled at a Friesland farm after an outbreak was detected.
- When
- In 2026, the fifth consecutive year of year-round circulation. The government issued an indoor order the previous week.
- Where
- The Netherlands, including a poultry farm in Friesland.
- Why
- The virus is adapting increasingly well to wild birds, and its spread is becoming more intense.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Bird flu has circulated year-round among wild bird populations in the Netherlands.
The government ordered all chickens indoors.
- Year
- 2026 was the fifth consecutive year of year-round circulation among wild birds.
- Government measure
- All chickens were ordered indoors the previous week.
- Location
- Thousands of laying hens were culled at a poultry farm in Friesland.
What people are saying
We do not want reputational damage because the chicken is actually indoors.