Belgian pigeon fair to go ahead without pigeons due to bird flu risk

The annual Fugare pigeon fair at Kortrijk Expo will go ahead this weekend without any pigeons, after authorities banned the presence of birds due to a bird flu outbreak in West Flanders.

The decision follows the detection of a new H5 avian flu outbreak at a poultry farm in Deerlijk, West Flanders, located within the protection zone established by the Federal Agency for the Safety of the Food Chain (FASFC).

As a result, the sale, transport and exhibition of live birds have been temporarily prohibited in the surrounding area.

Despite the absence of pigeons, organisers decided to allow the fair to go ahead, focusing instead on accessories, feed, equipment and networking among pigeon fanciers.

Fugare is considered one of Europe’s largest events of its kind, typically attracting thousands of visitors from Belgium and abroad.

Organisers have criticised the restrictions as disproportionate. Guillaume Vanneste, a representative of the fair, said the event is hardly affected by the protection zone.

"We’re just barely within the safety zone around the Deerlijk farm," he said. "If there were pigeon fanciers at the fair who lived within the closest perimeter of the affected farm, I could understand the strict measures. But that’s not the case."

Vanneste also pointed to differences in policy across borders. “The current measures are rather absurd, considering that in France, which is close by, they are much less strict,” he said.

The restrictions come as Belgium faces a rise in bird flu cases, particularly in poultry farms in West Flanders. In January, authorities ordered the culling of more than 55,000 chickens following a confirmed outbreak.

Virologist Marc Van Ranst warned on social media that the virus is evolving, citing developments in the neighbouring Netherlands.

“The H5N1 virus was detected for the first time in a cow and a cat from the same farm. The cat died from an H5N1 infection, and antibodies were found in a cow. The risk of transmission to humans is nonetheless currently low,” he said.

While the Brussels region has so far been spared from confirmed cases, authorities remain on alert, urging poultry owners and bird keepers to follow measures strictly. The FASFC said the restrictions were temporary and aimed at preventing the further spread of disease.