The level of risk associated with avian flu in France increased this Tuesday from moderate to high, after the detection of “several outbreaks”, according to information published in the Official Gazette.
The measure, which includes the confinement of poultry, was taken “taking into account the confirmation of several outbreaks on agricultural farms” and “the dynamics of infection in migratory corridors and the possibility of spread of the virus through these migratory birds,” according to the decree, which goes into effect immediately.
The epizootic risk (attacking many animals of the same species in the same area at the same time) to which poultry and other captive birds are exposed in the event of infection of wild birds with a highly pathogenic avian influenza virus is classified into three categories: “negligible”, “moderate” and “high”.
This risk was reduced to “negligible” in July and increased to “moderate” at the end of November, following the detection of an outbreak of avian flu on a turkey farm in the department of Morbihan (west), the first case in autumn 2023. .about France.
Before that, the country had remained at “elevated” risk between November 2022 and April 2023.
Avian flu, widespread in Europe, Asia and Africa, has led to the euthanasia of tens of millions of poultry in France in recent years.
According to the latest weekly bulletin, dated November 28, of the French animal health epidemiological surveillance platform, since August 1, 77 outbreaks of avian flu in poultry have been detected in Europe, mainly in Hungary and the United Kingdom, compared to 48 the previous week. .
A total of 27 countries have detected bird flu, according to the same source.
Source: TSF
