Category: News

Update: October 31, 2020
The measures regarding avian influenza (bird flu) are adjusted. The full overview can be found Read more

A migratory bird tested positive for West Nile Virus in the Netherlands. The bird was caught in August during routine sampling in the region of Utrecht. West Nile Virus is a disease transmitted by mosquitoes, making it a type of an arbovirus. Humans, and other mammalian species such as horses, are susceptible to

In 2017, the Dutch Wildlife Health Centre (DWHC) and the Dutch Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM) renewed testing roe deer serum samples for antibodies against tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV). The objective of this study was to locate potential TBEV foci and identify signs of increased

Well fed, no signs of disease or intoxication A noticeable mortality peak of adult seals occurred in Brouwersdam in the province of Zeeland early November 2017. Between November 5th  and 11th six dead, adult grey seals (Halichoerus grypus) were stranded near Brouwersdam. One of the animals was pregnant and near

At least nine bodies of prey were found in the stomach of the wildcat that was run over in the Dutch town of Nijswiller in February 2017. The animal was in good health and it appears that pure misfortune led to it being run over whilst crossing a country lane. Wildcats have been seen in the Netherlands for a few

Much like last year, there have been large numbers of reports of dead blackbirds, the majority of which are thought to be infected with Usutu virus.

Raccoons (Nyctereutes procyonoides) and raccoon dogs (Procyon lotor) in Europe are growing in number and increasing their range. Both species can carry pathogens that can cause disease in humans.

What is it? The Usutu virus originated in Africa and is named after the Usutu river in Swaziland. It can cause disease in birds and is transmitted by midges. The virus rarely causes disease in humans.

In the first half of 2017 six weasels were submitted to the DWHC for post-mortem exam. All six animals died of trauma. Skin perforations suggestive of predation were seen in three cases, two of which also had pneumonia. It is possible that this illness had weakened the weasels thereby making them more vulnerable

In March 2017, tularemia was detected in the carcases of two hares found dead in the Kromme Rijn region of Utrecht province that were submitted to the DWHC for post-mortem exam.