Avian Influenza outbreak in The Netherlands, Belgium and Germany

February - May 2003

The Netherlands

• First avian influenza cases were confirmed in late February 2003
• Influenza A H7N7 was the cause of the outbreak
• EU directive 92/40 implemented
• Control was done by culling of infected and in contact birds. Between 1 March and 15 May about 48 million birds were culled.
• Vaccination was only applied to birds in zoos.
  See press release Intervet donates flu vaccine
  

Belgium 

• 8 farms infected between 16 April-28 April. 
• 3 million infected and in contact birds culled.

Germany 

• 1 infected broiler farm 
• 120 000 birds culled.

Human Problems

• Numerous influenza like complaints were reported
• 1 veterinarian died. H7N7 was isolated from his lungs.
• Antibodies were found in 59% of family members of infected poultry workers.

See RIVM final report on the public health consequences of the epidemic.

For more information see:

The EUROPA website
Chronology of the outbreak in The Netherlands, Belgium and Germany starting 20 February 2003