A first case of bird flu has been detected in France, in a pet store located in Haute-Corse, said on Monday night the Minister of Agriculture and Food Julien Denormandie.
“The case was identified in the animal department of a garden center located near Bastia, following the observation of abnormal mortalities among the poultry detained”, said in parallel the Ministry of Agriculture and Food in a statement.
This detection gave rise to “the euthanasia of a farm of around 200 to 300 hens” on site, said Julien Denormandie. Following this case, the minister “brought together all the departments of the ministry and the national reference laboratory and decided to place the whole of the metropolitan national territory at a high risk level as of November 17, 2020”, specifies the press release.
France prepared
In this context, “specific measures to monitor and limit movements around the Haute-Corse outbreak were put in place immediately to prevent any propagation. Protective measures are also taken at suppliers and buyers linked to the Corsican outbreak”, is it added.
The minister specified that the French services have prepared in recent months for the detection on national soil of a case of avian flu.
The disease has already appeared in other countries such as Russia, Kazakhstan, the Netherlands, Ireland or Great Britain. In the last few days, cases have also been detected in Denmark as well as in Belgium.
No risk for humans
Julien Denormandie did not rule out that other cases could be detected in France, this virus being spread through migratory birds.
“Our goal is to limit this spread, it is preventable as soon as all of these measures are taken,” he said. However, “the consumption of meat, foie gras and eggs – and more generally of any food product – does not present any risk for humans”, assures his ministry.
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