France has spotted an outbreak of avian flu in a poultry farm in the Nord department, the first breeding outbreak identified since last winter’s epizootic, the Ministry of Agriculture announced on Saturday.
As a result, it is losing its “free” status from bird flu, the ministry told AFP. This can have consequences for the export opportunities of its poultry.
“While avian influenza viruses are actively circulating in Europe via migratory birds, France detected on November 26 an outbreak due to a highly pathogenic strain in a breeding hen farm located in the town of Warhem, in the Nord department, “the ministry said in a statement.
The suspicion of infection follows a finding of abnormal mortalities among poultry on the farm.
France had already declared since the end of the summer four cases of avian influenza in wildlife and three cases in backyard on the metropolitan territory. In Europe, 26 countries are currently affected by influenza viruses, affecting more than 400 outbreaks in breeding and 600 cases in wildlife, specifies the ministry.
Sanitary measures have been taken. The hens will be slaughtered and the home will be disinfected. A protection zone (3 km around the home) and a surveillance zone (10 km) have been set up by the Prefect.
The consumption of meat, foie gras and eggs – and more generally of any food product made from poultry – does not present any risk for humans, insists the ministry.
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