Whilst the avian influenza virus is not currently present in the Grand Duchy, Luxembourg's Ministry of Agriculture, Viticulture and Rural Development has urged poultry keepers to respect preventive biosecurity measures.

Despite the absence of bird flu in Luxembourg, the virus has been detected in migratory and non-migratory birds as well as in poultry in the Netherlands and Germany, among others.

In order to prevent the appearance and spread of this highly pathogenic virus in Luxembourg, the Veterinary Services Administration of the Agriculture Ministry reminded keepers of poultry and birds of the following preventive biosecurity measures:

- to protect domestic poultry from contact with wild birds, it is recommended to confine poultry indoors or to cover pens with netting. Feeding and watering should be done inside buildings. Watering poultry with water from surface water reservoirs accessible to wild birds is prohibited;

- any suspicion of avian influenza (eg abnormal mortality) should be reported to a veterinarian;

- all poultry imports must be certified (TRACES) by an official veterinarian in the country of origin. This obligation also applies to the purchase of poultry on a market.

The Veterinary Services Administration assured that the consumption of meat and eggs is safe for humans.