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France has raised the risk level for bird flu to ‘high’ following the detection of new cases, prompting stringent measures across poultry farms to contain the highly contagious virus. The agriculture ministry’s decision, published in the Official Journal, mandates poultry confinement indoors to curb the spread of the disease.
The resurgence of avian influenza, commonly known as bird flu, has resulted in the culling of hundreds of millions of birds globally in recent years. With its typical peak during autumn and winter, the virus has been surging across various European nations, including Germany, the Netherlands, and Belgium in recent weeks.
Last week, France reported its initial bird flu outbreak this season in Brittany, northwest of the country. Another outbreak emerged among turkeys in the Somme department in northern France, as disclosed by Yann Nedelec, director of the French poultry industry group Anvol.
As temperatures drop and migration patterns intensify from November to February/March, the risk escalates, warned Nedelec.
The elevated ‘high’ risk classification necessitates the containment of all poultry indoors on farms, alongside additional stringent biosecurity measures to prevent the virus’s spread.
While bird flu poses no threat through consumption, its transmission remains a critical concern for governments and the poultry industry due to potential flock devastation, trade limitations, and the risk of human transmission.
France initiated a vaccination campaign in early October, initially targeting ducks, which can transmit the virus without displaying symptoms. The effectiveness of France’s strategy in vaccinating birds remains under scrutiny amidst this season’s bird flu outbreak.
The nation aims to vaccinate over 60 million ducks; however, as of last month, only 70% had received their initial shot, with merely 40% fully vaccinated, revealed Marie-Pierre Pe, director of France’s duck and foie gras industry group CIFOG to Reuters. The ongoing outbreak underscores the industry’s vigilance as it awaits the efficacy outcomes of France’s vaccination efforts.
