FRANCE

France is rasing the level of risk in avian influenza

Poultry

France is once again raising the level of risk and strengthening the implementation of preventive measures in poultry farms.

Posted on Nov 11 ,06:48

Since the detection of the highly pathogenic avian influenza virus H5N8 in two swans in the Netherlands on 23 October, the number of cases in wildlife has continued to increase in Europe. Domestic outbreaks and cases in wild avifauna have been confirmed not only in the Netherlands but also in Germany and the United Kingdom.

The acceleration of the infection dynamic increases the risk of introducing the virus into France via the migration corridors currently used by wild birds.

Faced with this situation, the Minister of Agriculture and Food Julien Denormandie has decided to reduce from "moderate" to "high" the level of risk of introduction of the avian influenza virus by avifauna in metropolitan France or in the departments crossed by the migration corridors of these wild birds and in areas at particular risk .
This decision was taken after informing the professionals of the poultry industry and the National Federation of Hunters and consulting the French Biodiversity Office. However, it is important to remind farmers and transporters that they must strictly adhere to all biosecurity measures, including cleaning and disinfection in farms, transport crates and vehicles, in order to prevent any arrival of the virus in France, regardless of the route of introduction.

Julien Denormandie calls for strict compliance with biosecurity measures and increased surveillance on the part of professional actors, individuals who keep birds, and hunters.

The following preventive measures are made mandatory in all departments classified as “high” and in areas at particular risk :

• confinement or protection of poultry farms by a net with reduction of outdoor routes for animals;
• ban on the gathering of birds (examples: competitions, fairs or exhibitions);
• a ban on involving birds originating from these departments in gatherings organized in the rest of the territory;
• ban on the transport and release of game birds;

The following measures are also kept mandatory throughout the territory :

• daily clinical monitoring in commercial farms;
• ban on racing pigeon competitions departing or arriving from a cited department;
• compulsory vaccination in zoos for birds that cannot be confined or protected under netting.

To date, France is free from avian influenza. The consumption of meat, fatty liver and eggs does not present any risk for humans. Highly pathogenic avian influenza is an infectious, viral, highly contagious animal disease that affects birds.

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