The World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) received a notification from the Netherlands on December 10 of H5N6 HPAI.   The fattening duck farm in Flevoland observed signs of the virus and 400 dead birds on December 7 and confirmed it the next day, resulting in 16,000 birds being destroyed.

The OIE reports that on December 8, a 3 km surveillance zone and a 10 km protection zone had been established. There are four other premises within the 3 km zone. All susceptible animals on the infected premises have been killed.  All premises in the 3 km zone have been screened. All samples of the screened premises were tested negative. This H5N6 subtype is a reassortment linked to H5N8, and not the Asian zoonotic H5N6, reports OIE.

Some of the control measures applied include movement control inside the country, screening, stamping out, control of wildlife reservoirs, zoning and disinfection.  Vaccination of the affected birds has been prohibited and none of them have received treatment.  See the Must Read News for more on HPAI in Europe and Asia.