A lot of bird flu in Europe, France wants to vaccinate

The number of outbreaks of avian flu continues to increase in several European countries. France has now had 260 outbreaks since August 1. French Agriculture Minister Marc Fresneau therefore wants to start vaccination against avian flu this autumn.

The vast majority of bird flu outbreaks in France have occurred in the area where French broiler ducks are raised. The most affected region is the Vendée with 115 outbreaks. Bird flu is also widespread in the regions of Maine et Loire (41 outbreaks) and Deux-Sèvres (34). These regions are located around and below Nantes and near the Loire River. In total, France had more than 1,550 outbreaks in 2022.

As the number of outbreaks increased significantly in November, the measures were tightened in early December. Ducks and turkeys in a 10 to 20 km zone around outbreaks are killed preventively and no new ducks or turkeys can be reared in a 50 km zone around outbreaks.

Due to the high number of outbreaks, the previous French agriculture minister has already supported vaccination and the new minister is taking over. If the outcome of the current trial vaccinations is good, Fresneau aims to begin vaccinations this fall. It is clear that vaccination should therefore be allowed and that good agreements will be made with trading partners inside and outside Europe.

Many outbreaks Germany and Poland

In December, Germany had 69 bird flu outbreaks according to data from the Friedrich Loeffler Institute, and three outbreaks in January. The outbreaks are mainly in ducks and chickens, but also in turkeys and geese, ducks and turkeys such as laying hens. It is not known how many animals are involved.

Poland is also struggling with bird flu. The World Organization for Animal Health has received 12 reports since 15 December. A total of nearly 450,000 chickens were culled on these farms with between 2,400 and 62,000 hens. Sometimes there was already a high failure rate before the company was licensed.

Italy

In Italy, four companies were infected in December. Two farms with turkeys, a poultry farm and a guinea fowl farm. In November, another 19 companies were infected in Italy. Hungary has had three outbreaks in recent weeks, with a total of 26,000 animals culled.

Denmark has reported two outbreaks in recent weeks with a total of 86,000 animals. In Spain, a farm with 1,500 animals was hit. In the Netherlands, the latest outbreak in a poultry farm dates back to November 21st. There was an outbreak in a hobby shop in Mijdrecht in December.