Bird fluNew outbreak discovered in north-eastern Luxembourg

The H5N1 bird flu virus was last discovered in mid-December 2022 in domestic geese in Useldange, in the west of the country. Earlier this month, Minister of Agriculture Claude Haagen stated that Luxembourg was “relatively untouched” by avian flu in 2022 and that the situation is considered “under control.”

On Friday, the Ministry of Agriculture confirmed that a new outbreak had been discovered near Clervaux, in north-eastern Luxembourg. Specifically, the virus was detected “in poultry kept in Lellingen.”

As a reminder, the consumption of eggs and poultry meat is safe for public health.

To avoid the spread of the highly pathogenic virus and the appearance of new outbreaks, the Luxembourg Veterinary and Food Administration (ALVA) reminds poultry and bird keepers to respect the following preventive measures:

• Feeding and watering must take place on premises that are not accessible to wild birds;
• Poultry must be kept in enclosed facilities;
• Poultry may have access to outdoor areas if protective nets are built to prevent contact with wild birds;
• Biosecurity rules must be strictly observed;
• All gatherings of poultry (poultry shows) are prohibited;
• Any abnormal deaths of poultry must be reported to a veterinarian.

The Veterinary Administration stresses that all imports of poultry “must be done under cover of a health certificate (TRACES) issued by an official veterinarian of the country of origin. This obligation also applies to the purchase of poultry at a market.”

If you find a dead or sick wild water bird (goose, duck, swan), you are asked to report it to the Luxembourg Veterinary and Food Administration (ALVA), either by calling 247 82539 or by writing an e-mail to info@alva.etat.lu