Weelde (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – Bird flu detected at a poultry farm in Weelde, Ravels. 3 km protection and 10 km surveillance zones imposed. FASFC urges indoor shielding of birds; report dead wild birds 0800/99.777.
As VRT News reported, bird flu has been confirmed at a poultry farm in Weelde, Ravels, near the Dutch border, in the province of Antwerp, Belgium. A 3-kilometre protection zone has been set up around the infected farm. A larger 10-kilometre surveillance zone covers the surrounding area in Antwerp Noorderkempen.
Officials mentioned that all poultry owners in these zones, whether professional or hobbyists, must protect their birds from wild birds. The 3-kilometre zone also applies to all other captive birds, including pets and ornamental birds.
What is happening with bird flu at Weelde, Houthulst, and Welkenraedt?
Outbreaks have also been reported at a commercial farm in Houthulst and at a hobbyist’s property in Welkenraedt. Dead wild birds infected with bird flu were found in Forest and Auderghem. Authorities have reintroduced mandatory shielding rules for professional poultry keepers.
“The FAV strongly recommends protecting your animals as much as possible by shielding the chicken run or aviary from wild birds.”
Hélène Bonte, FAVV
According to officials, owners of privately kept birds and poultry are not required to be tested for bird flu. They must, however, make sure that their birds always have access to food and water. Birds should be kept indoors or in a protected area where they cannot come into contact with wild birds.
The Federal Agency for the Safety of the Food Chain (FASFC) warns the public not to touch dead or sick birds. Anyone who notices signs of illness in their birds should contact a veterinarian immediately. Dead wild birds can be reported by calling 0800/99.777. Authorities will collect these birds for testing to monitor the virus and prevent further spread.
“The FASFC strongly recommends protecting your animals as much as possible by shielding the chicken run or aviary from wild birds. This can be done, for example, by covering it with netting,”
says spokesperson Hélène Bonte.
The avian influenza virus spreads mainly through direct contact with infected birds or contaminated objects, including manure, bedding, or equipment. Wild birds can also carry the virus over long distances and infect domestic flocks. Infection in humans is very rare, and there have been no confirmed cases of human-to-human transmission anywhere in the world.
In 2025, Belgium experienced multiple instances of HPAI: primarily caused by the H5N1 strain. The first reported outbreak was confirmed on February 18, 2025, in Saint-Gillis-Waas, located in East Flanders. The 2nd outbreak was reported in Stekene on March 6, 2025, and the 3rd outbreak was confirmed on October 22, 2025, in Houthulst, with all outbreaks resulting in the same containment response.
The most significant outbreak was reported on October 22, 2025, at a turkey farm located near Diksmuide, in the northern part of Belgium. There were 319 confirmed dead birds, with 67,110 remaining birds culled to control further spread of the disease.
