Outbreak of fowl plague (avian influenza) leads to secondary human cases, March 2003, the Netherlands

The National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM) in the Netherlands, in collaboration with a multi organisation partnership, has implemented enhanced surveillance in response to the outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza (Influenza A/H7N7) in several Dutch poultry farms (1). The latest results (up to 19 March 2003) show that, among the population exposed to infected poultry, there have been 169 persons with acute health problems. Of the 132 persons with conjunctivitis, 29 also reported having ILI.