| Series Title | European Voice |
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| Series Details | Vol.9, No.15, 17.4.03, p3 |
| Publication Date | 17/04/2003 |
| Content Type | News |
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Date: 17/04/03 A HIGHLY contagious bird flu that has plagued poultry farmers in the Netherlands has now spread to Belgium. Piet Vanthemsche, head of the nation's food safety authority, said yesterday (16 April) that all exports of chicken and eggs had been banned. All transport of chicken and eggs within Belgium has also been halted. The outbreak of the avian flu was discovered late on Tuesday evening at a farm in the eastern border region of Limburg. Belgian authorities said they would slaughter 250,000 birds within a three-kilometre radius of the farm, where 550 died suddenly. Vanthemsche called on farmers to report any further suspect chicken deaths without delay. A Commission spokesman said yesterday: "The Belgian authorities together with the European Commission have immediately put in place protective measures." The flu, an avian H7 virus or 'classical strain' of the disease, is harmless to humans. A highly contagious avian flu that has plagued poultry farmers in the Netherlands has now spread to Belgium. |
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| Subject Categories | Business and Industry |
| Countries / Regions | Belgium |
