In the event of an outbreak of bird flu, the 10 kilometer zone will in future be drawn as circles and no longer via roads or waterways, for example. And rapid tests may be used for bird flu in the future, Agriculture Minister Piet Adema reports in a letter to Parliament.
In the event of an outbreak of bird flu, all kinds of restrictions apply in a zone of 10 kilometers around the outbreak. This restriction zone has always been drawn based on streets and other natural boundaries. This was clear, the outgoing minister reported in the letter to Parliament. But this sometimes resulted in companies located within the restriction zone that actually fell outside the 10 kilometer zone.
Now that the animal disease viewer of the Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO) makes it possible to zoom in on a map and see whether a location falls within the restriction zone or not, an area description is no longer necessary. After the technical adjustments have been completed by RVO, Adema will replace the area description with a circle in the event of an outbreak.
A suitable rapid test
Wageningen Bioveterinary Research (WBVR) has investigated three tests for bird flu in laboratory conditions. This turned out to be possible, with one test standing out because of its reliability and low costs. On behalf of the minister, WBVR will further investigate the test in the field in both poultry and wild birds. This is done together with the Dutch Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority (NVWA) and the Dutch Wildlife Health Center.
The use of rapid tests could become a valuable addition to existing diagnostics. But rapid tests are generally not as reliable as a PCR test and therefore cannot replace it. A rapid test also cannot distinguish between different subtypes of the bird flu virus. The test was only tested under laboratory conditions. And this has only been tested in chickens and ducks and not in various wild bird species. Therefore, additional research is first necessary.
Rapid testing and the reporting obligation
If a rapid test shows that there is no bird flu, the poultry farmer or veterinarian must immediately report a suspicion to the NVWA. The rapid test can give an incorrect result. If a possible outbreak is reported too late, the control of bird flu will be delayed.
Once the results of the additional research are known, it can be assessed whether rapid tests can be used to gain a quick insight into the situation. Adema emphasizes that the rapid test has no official status and the result must always be confirmed with a PCR test. A company can only be officially declared infected or virus-free if a PCR test, carried out by the national reference laboratory, has been carried out after sampling by an official veterinarian of the NVWA.
Invented by Animal Ambulance Ronde Venen
The rapid tests, which will be further investigated, were devised by director Miriam Bosman of Animal Ambulance Ronde Venen, reports the AD. She first tried a corona self-test, but it did not work. An influenza A self-test should give a good result.
Rapid tests can help animal ambulances and wildlife sanctuaries determine whether a live bird has bird flu or botulism. The symptoms of the diseases are similar. If there is bird flu, the wild bird cannot be collected to prevent other birds from being infected. The rapid test does not provide certainty, which is why the ministry recommends always using personal protective equipment when disposing of dead or visibly sick birds.
