Following isolation of H5N8 virus from wild swans in Holland, the Ministry of Agriculture has advised Dutch poultry farmers to confine flocks to prevent infection from migratory waterfowl.  Following the disastrous 2003 outbreak resulting in depletion of 30 million chickens, subsequent outbreaks in 2014, 2016 and 2017 were contained by the simple expedient of confinement.

It is expected that avian influenza will emerge in exposed commercial and backyard poultry if there is contact between poultry and migratory birds carrying and excreting virus through comingling and common use of waterways.