A second outbreak of highly infectious bird flu has been identified within a week in the Gelderse Vallei, one of the heartlands of the Dutch poultry industry.

All 28,000 laying hens on the farm in Terschuur have been destroyed, in line with agriculture ministry regulations. In total, 800,000 birds have been killed at some 20 locations since the outbreak began last month.

There are 217 other poultry farms within a 10-kilometre radius of the Terschuur farm and some are in the same zone as the other outbreak six days ago. No birds, eggs or manure can be moved within the restricted zone.

Jacco van der Tak, the mayor of Barneveld local authority, which includes Terschuur, said he is extremely concerned about the situation.

“This is not the scenario we had hoped for in a council area such as ours, where the poultry industry plays an important role,” he said on social media. “I am crossing my fingers for the coming period. This outbreak is having a major impact.”

Bird flu has been identified at 14 farms, a pheasant breeder and a petting zoo in recent weeks, as well as at several locations just over the Belgian and German borders.

On October 16, the farm ministry ordered that all farmed birds be kept indoors to stop potential exposure to the virus, which is also spread by wild birds. The previous indoor order had ended in July.