By Melike Pala
BRUSSELS (AA) - Belgium has ordered all professional poultry keepers to house their birds indoors after new cases of bird flu were detected, the Federal Agency for the Safety of the Food Chain (FAVV) announced Wednesday.
The mandatory sheltering measure was reintroduced following the detection of the highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza strain at a commercial poultry farm and a small hobby farm, the Belga news agency reported.
Authorities said the measure is to prevent a further spread of the virus among domestic and wild birds.
"Avian flu poses a serious threat to poultry farms and our economy. The best way to protect our animals and prevent the spread of the virus is to adopt preventive measures, such as mandatory sheltering," said Federal Agriculture Minister David Clarinval.
He urged poultry keepers to strictly comply with biosecurity rules.
Neighboring countries are also stepping up precautions. The Netherlands recently introduced a nationwide housing obligation for poultry to limit contact with wild birds, while France raised its bird flu alert level to "high" on Wednesday after detecting additional cases, according to a government decree published in the Journal Officiel.
Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI), commonly known as bird flu, has been circulating among wild bird populations and poultry farms worldwide in recent years, causing high mortality rates and ecological damage.
Though rare, infections have also been reported in some mammals and humans who had close contact with infected animals.
"Humans and mammals are generally not very susceptible to bird flu, but caution remains necessary. Dog owners should ensure their pets stay away from sick or dead birds during walks," said Mieke Steensels from Belgium's national health institute, Sciensano.