Archive

The annual report containing an overview of all activities of the DWHC for 2023 is now available. Click here to view the annual report.

The last couple of weeks, an above average amount of ill and dead common blackbirds has been reported to the DWHC from all over the Netherlands. A selection of these birds has been examined and tested positive for infection with the Usutu-virus. This virus has caused a higher mortality among common blackbirds

During the breeding seasons of 2022 and 2023, highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) caused increased or even mass bird mortality among wild birds in the Netherlands. Certain waterbird species that breed closely together in colonies, such as gulls and terns, were particularly affected. To the relief of bird

On July 6th in Rheinland-Pfalz, near the city Gimbsheim, one sick and one dead wild boar were found. One of these boars was confirmed to be infected with African swine fever by the Friederich-Loeffler-Institut (FLI) on July 9th. This area is located on the opposite side of the Rhine from the previously reported

The red squirrel (Sciurus vulgaris, hereafter referred to as the squirrel) is a protected species in the Netherlands. Research by the Dutch Wildlife Health Centre (DWHC) on dead squirrels has found that trauma is the most common direct cause of death. This trauma can be caused by a fall, but also by collisions or

Tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) is an inflammation of the brain and/or its membranes caused by the tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV), and as the name suggests, it is transmitted by infected ticks.

ENETWILD is an international European consortium in which research institutions specializing in wildlife and animal diseases collaborate with a large open network of partners on questions posed by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA). The management and monitoring of fauna are studied, mainly in relation to

At the end of January 2024, the DWHC received a report of a dying fox by the roadside in the city Groesbeek, which was picked up by the animal ambulance of Nijmegen. The fox was taken to a veterinarian, who euthanized the suffering animal. The DWHC collected the fox for examination.

In recent years, we have repeatedly faced increased or even massive bird mortality among wild birds as a result of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI). However, this was not the case in the first quarter of 2024. Although there were occasional indications that HPAI was still circulating among wild birds,

As in 2023, the beaver (Castor fiber) is the focus species at DWHC in 2024. The choice for the beaver as the focus species is motivated by the desire to receive more dead beavers for research into their cause of death. This allows us to better investigate what health issues beavers may have and to gain more