French Bird Flu Outbreak Total Rises to Ten
FRANCE - The total number of recent French highly pathogenic avian influenza outbreaks has risen to ten, with the confirmation of four more outbreaks.
10 December 2015
3 minute read
By: Three of the new outbreaks were detected in Dordogne, and one in Haute-Vienne.
More information was also revealed about all ten outbreaks today, in reports from the French authorities to the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE).
Four outbreaks in Dordogne and the one in Haute-Vienne have been identified as the highly pathogenic H5N1 serotype of the virus, through laboratory testing.
Additional samples on a Dordogne duck farm infected with the H5N1 virus were shown to contain a H5N9 strain as well.
Several of the outbreaks occurred on backyard poultry holdings, and some happened on duck farms including fois gras operations.
Two Dordogne outbreaks have been listed as H5N2 strains of the virus, in Domme and Cenac et Saint Julien.
Three outbreaks of the H5N9 highly pathogenic flu strain take the total to ten. Of these, two occurred in Dordogne and one in Landes.
In total, over 45,000 birds have already been culled as a result of these outbreaks, to try and prevent the virus from spreading.
In addition, two outbreaks of a low-pathogenic H5N2 strain have been reported in the Landes region. The affected premises were both duck farms involved with fois gras production, and held over 3000 animals in total.
The Ministry of Agriculture is enacting protection zones, surveillance and biosecurity measures as well, to prevent spread to neighbouring countries or areas.
In addition, the ministry met with the professional sectors concerned, notably to address the health strategy to limit the spread of the disease and the problems related to export.
Further Reading
You can visit the avian flu page by clicking here, and read our previous article on the French outbreaks here.
