The French ministry of agriculture and food sovereignty has raised the avian influenza risk level its maximum level of ‘high’ and has introduced stronger preventive measures to protect poultry farms.
One outbreak has been detected in the country so far this season in Morbihan at the end of November, but a changing situation across Europe has prompted the decision.
This decision means throughout the country there is a ban of gatherings of poultry and captive birds; vehicles transporting birds must be covered to prevent the loss of feathers from lorries. In areas at risk of spread, i.e. where there is a high density of poultry farms, there are further mandatory measures including screening for HPAI of birds moving between farms, plus restricted access to farms and compulsory disinfection of vehicles.
In October, France began for the first time to vaccinate against HPAI in its commercially valuable duck industry. Commercial farms with more than 250 ducks are subject to mandatory vaccination.