The virus has already been registered in several municipalities in Rogaland, Innlandet and in Eastern Norway. On Tuesday, infection was also detected in wild birds in Telemark. In a short time, over 60 birds have been found dead in Skien, Porsgrunn, Bamble and Larvik. The veterinary institute has tested six of them and all were infected with the virus. The Norwegian Food Safety Authority’s biggest fear is now that the infection from wild birds could spread to commercial poultry operations. Milliontap Holte farm is one of two Norwegian duck producers in Norway. The farm in Drangedal also has chickens, geese and other farm animals. General manager Trude Nordli says that the consequences will be enormous if their animals become infected. – I fear it will mean financial ruin if we get an infection in the herd. I’m afraid we won’t be able to crawl back out of something like that. General manager at Holte farm, Trude Nordli. Photo: Vegard Lilleås / news In the event of an infection, they must slaughter absolutely everything. Nordli estimates that it will take them about a year to get started again with duck and goose. – We would have lost at least 25 to 30 million, she says. This is Newcastle disease Newcastle disease (ND) is a very serious viral disease in domestic and wild poultry. It primarily attacks the respiratory tract, but also the stomach, intestines and nervous system. Typical symptoms are a sudden loss of appetite, low mood, drop in egg production and difficulty breathing. If the nervous system is attacked, one will see tremors in the head, paralysis of the wings and twisted head position. Severe greenish-yellow diarrhea is observed when the stomach/intestine is attacked. Sick animals usually die within 72 hours. In some flocks, the mortality rate can be up to 90 per cent. There is a very low risk for humans to become infected, especially if gloves are used when handling sick birds. The virus causes mild symptoms in humans, such as eye inflammation or mild flu-like symptoms. ND is a disease on national list 1. This means that if you suspect the disease in animals, or it has been detected, you must notify the Norwegian Food Safety Authority immediately. The disease is combated by culling and destroying all the animals in a herd. The Norwegian Food Safety Authority has drawn up its own control plan for the disease. Source: Norwegian Food Safety Authority Increases infection control Nordli hopes the farm will be saved by its location. The farm is located in a valley. There are no pigeons or swans. Nevertheless, she is worried about what they themselves, or others, can bring with them from infection. There are around 2,000 chickens inside the chicken house at Holte farm. Photo: Vegard Lilleås / news That is why they are extra careful with infection control now. The spring release of geese on the farm is approaching. Usually they are released on green meadows after Easter. If the serious bird disease continues to spread, they must be contained. Nordli is happy that they already have a plan B. The geese can be sheltered in the cattle barn, if necessary. Geese grazing at Holte farm in Drangedal in the summer of 2022. This year they may risk having to stay inside. Photo: Holte farm Drangedal AS The farm is the largest workplace in the area, second only to the municipality. The responsibility for both animals and employees is not something she takes lightly. – I don’t think people understand how serious this is. There is a lot of fear, because we don’t know enough about what consequences this could have. Highest preparedness Stange farm products in Tønsberg are aware that the bird disease is approaching their area. Managing director Peter Aronsen sees that there is a greater danger of infection in Eastern Norway now. – We have contingency plans for just such things, and can state that we are now on the highest alert, he writes in an e-mail to news. Ulf Høyer-Jonassen found ten dead swans in Viksfjord in Larvik on Monday this week. What the swans died of is not yet known. Photo: Ulf Høyer-Jonassen Erik Mathisen runs Furustad farm in Sandefjord. He thinks it is terribly sad that the serious bird disease is spreading in Norway. The farmer follows full infection control regardless, and says he is already doing everything he can to prevent infection on the farm. Good infection control is important The contagious and deadly virus has previously been detected in Oslo, Follo, Moss, Sandefjord, Indre Østfold and Fredrikstad, among others. Leader of the Norwegian Farmers Association, Bjørn Gimming, says that it is very unfortunate that the disease is spreading. – What I am concerned about is that the infection does not enter the barn and infect our livestock. It represents a risk in the commercial livestock farms and for Norwegian food production. Leader of the Norwegian Farmers’ Association, Bjørn Gimming. Photo: Even Bjøringsøy Johnsen / news The Norwegian Farmers’ Union says that Norwegian livestock and poultry farmers have good routines for dealing with such situations. – If you have good routines, there will be a low risk of infection in domestic birds, says Gimming. If a farm were to become infected, the Farmers’ Association supports those who are affected. There are also compensation schemes, explains the farmers’ union leader. – Difficult to control The infection comes with migratory birds and is out of control, the Norwegian Food Safety Authority stated on Tuesday. – It is difficult to control the amount of infection out in nature, said Asle Fremgård, head of department at the Norwegian Food Safety Authority in Telemark. Asle Fremgård, head of department at the Norwegian Food Safety Authority in Telemark. Photo: Vegard Lilleås / news The Norwegian Food Safety Authority is now working to prevent the infection from spreading. They send out information to anyone involved in hobby and commercial poultry keeping to offer help and advice.
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– Fears financial ruin if we get infected – news Vestfold and Telemark – Local news, TV and radio
