Category: News

The common Kestrel and the Peregrine Falcon are the ‘DWHC focus animals’ of 2025. Our goal is to investigate more Common Kestrels and Peregrine Falcons on their cause of death. Common Kestrels and Peregrine Falcons are birds of prey that are high up in the food chain. By eating prey, they can also become infected

This message was updated on February 11th, 2025; the map has been updated with the latest results.

In addition to birds, mammals can also be infected with bird flu. On January 11th, 2025, a fox exhibiting abnormal neurological behavior was found in Hoofddorp. This was reported to the NVWA, after which it tested positive for bird flu.

The current outbreak of the highly pathogenic H5N1 virus, which has caused increased bird mortality in the Netherlands since November, is spreading rapidly. Barnacle Geese in the Northern parts of the Netherlands in particular are greatly affected, but the virus has also been detected in other species and other

On January 11, 2025, a fox showing neurological symptoms was found in Hoofddorp. The animal remained in the same place and turned in circles. The animal could no longer be saved and thus was euthanized. The fox showed symptoms that are similar to birds infected with bird flu. It was therefore decided to have the

On December 1st, 2024, a young male hedgehog (Erinaceus europaeus) was found stuck in the net of a vegetable garden. The hedgehog was cold and dehydrated, but still alive. He was taken to an animal shelter where it turned out that the hedgehog’s spines had folded over its pelvis. This made the animal

In the Netherlands, increased mortality is occurring again in waterbird, birds of prey and scavengers as a result of bird flu. Carnivorous mammals are also affected by bird flu (https://dwhc.nl/bunzing-en-vossen-besmet-met-vogelgriep/).

In recent weeks, there have been increasing indications that highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) is circulating among wild birds in the Netherlands. A poultry farm was infected as well. There seems to be little evidence of increased bird mortality, but it is important to monitor the situation closely.

On Friday October 25th, a 2.5-year-old cat fell ill with European bat lyssavirus type 1 (EBLV-1). This happened a few weeks after she brough home a bat (https://www.uu.nl/nieuws/kat-besmet-met-european-bat-lyssavirus-1).

The Dutch Wildlife Health Centre has sent out blood sampling kits to game management units/hunters and managers responsible for coordinating found wild animal carcasses via the wildlife management units. In the figure below you can see the locations we received blood samples from. Up until now, 22% of the