February 23, 2015
The Netherlands confirms its first known songbird-related case of avian influenza since 2012, announcing that a virus had been found in a dead wigeon in Friesland.
Friesland, Netherlands | Netherlands Ministry of Economic Affairs
On February 23, 2015, The Netherlands confirmed its first known case of avian influenza in a songbird since 2012. The announcement indicated that a virus had been identified in a dead wigeon found in Friesland, a province in the northern part of The Netherlands.
Avian influenza, commonly referred to as bird flu, is caused by infection with avian (bird) influenza (flu) Type A viruses. These viruses occur naturally among wild aquatic birds worldwide and can infect domestic poultry and other bird and animal species. The detection of avian influenza in wild birds often precedes outbreaks in domestic poultry, raising concerns over public health and livestock security.
The confirmation of avian influenza in the wigeon prompted further monitoring and testing of wild bird populations across The Netherlands. Authorities sought to prevent potential transmission to domestic poultry, an occurrence that could lead to economic repercussions within the agricultural sector. The incident underscored the importance of vigilant monitoring and biosecurity measures to prevent the spread of such infectious diseases.
This event was part of broader efforts to understand and control avian influenza spread among birds, which could occasionally pose a risk to human health, especially if the virus were to mutate and become more easily transmissible between humans.
Source: www.reuters.com