France Reports More Bird Flu Outbreaks
FRANCE - France's total number of highly pathogenic avian influenza outbreaks since November has now risen to 74, although the pace of new outbreaks being discovered has slowed substantially since the height of the problems in December.Two new outbreaks were discovered in the Dordogne region on 23 February.
Two farms producing ducks for fois gras were affected. One held 2000 ducks and was in Saint-Paul-la-Roche, and one held 6000 ducks and was in Beauregard-et-Bassac.
Management measures are currently being implemented to try and eradicate the disease, and producers are waiting for the all-clear so they can start up with new animals, in preparation for key fois gras consumption seasons later in the year.
Click here for a full list of the French outbreaks (in French).