Oudsbergen (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – Staff at the Wildlife Aid Centre in Oudsbergen rescued a weak crane in Bocholt, likely infected with bird flu. Frederik Thoelen confirmed strict quarantine after outbreaks killed tens of thousands of cranes in Germany and France.
As VRT News reported, staff from the Wildlife Aid Centre in Oudsbergen, in the province of Limburg, Belgium, rescued a weak crane from a meadow in Bocholt after residents spotted the bird unable to fly. When the bird arrived at the centre, it was in poor health. The team quickly suspected bird flu, which has been spreading among wild birds across Europe in recent weeks.
The incident happened during the crane migration season, when large groups of cranes fly south and gather in fields and wetlands to rest. Experts say these gatherings make it easy for the virus to spread from one bird to another.
“We already feared that an infected crane would appear here sooner or later,”
a staff member said.
“When we arrived, the bird was barely moving and didn’t even attempt to fly,”
says Frederik Thoelen of the Wildlife Aid Centre.
“That’s when our alarm bells went off and we immediately suspected bird flu.”
What does the Oudsbergen crane rescue reveal about bird flu spread?
Bird flu has already caused major problems for cranes in nearby countries, especially in Germany, where many dead birds have been found at key stopover sites.
“In France and Germany. Tens of thousands of cranes have already died from bird flu. At gathering places, such as the well-known Lac du Der, dead cranes are scattered across the fields,”
says Thoelen.
The crane rescued in Bocholt is believed to be infected with bird flu.
“We wear special suits because we come into close contact with the bird,”
Thoelen explains,
“The chance of people contracting avian flu is very small, but we still want to be very careful. Also, because we don’t want to infect other birds.”
The bird has been placed in strict quarantine to prevent the virus from spreading to other animals. Workers are using protective clothing and disinfecting all materials after contact with the bird.
Samples have been taken for testing to confirm if it is infected with avian influenza. Staff say extra caution is needed because the virus is spreading fast among wild birds this migration season..
“The vet has taken samples to confirm avian flu with 100 percent certainty. Although we can assume it is, because the bird is showing symptoms. We expect the results of the samples tomorrow or sometime next week. The bird is very weak, so there’s a small chance it will survive,”
Thoelen fears.
With bird flu likely to appear in the Netherlands, authorities are urging poultry farmers to take stronger safety measures.
“We must stay alert,”
said Thoelen from the Wildlife Aid Centre.
“One infected bird can cause major problems.”
“Many birds can be susceptible, especially waterfowl like geese and ducks. But chickens can also get the disease. It’s therefore important that chicken keepers are vigilant. They should always try to avoid contact with wild birds. The disease can spread from wild birds to domesticated animals.”
“It’s also crucial that industrial chicken farms adhere to the protection regulations. If the disease breaks out there, the farm must be very well protected, because once it’s released into the wild, it can spread worldwide,”
Thoelen emphasises.
Since 23 October 2025, the Federal Agency for the Safety of the Food Chain (FASFC) has required professional breeders to protect their poultry with nets and to follow strict hygiene rules. The aim is to keep wild birds away from feed and water to reduce the risk of infection. Officials are also asking the public not to touch dead or sick birds and to report them to the proper authorities.
Bird flu, also known as avian influenza, is a viral infection that affects birds and spreads quickly through direct contact. The virus can pass from one bird to another through droppings, saliva, or nasal fluids. There are 2 main types of the disease: low pathogenic, which causes mild or no symptoms, and highly pathogenic, which leads to severe illness or sudden death.
Brussels Morning is a daily online newspaper based in Belgium. BM publishes unique and independent coverage on international and European affairs. With a Europe-wide perspective, BM covers policies and politics of the EU, significant Member State developments, and looks at the international agenda with a European perspective.
