Cike Omicron in humans, the H5N1 avian influenza virus which is once again affecting farms in the South-West is galloping. Too fast for protective measures to stop him. On Wednesday January 19, the ministry, in agreement with professionals, announced an acceleration of the strategy to combat the virus.
After 1.2 million palmipeds and gallinaceae have already been slaughtered, an additional 1.3 million will be subject to massive, preventive and progressive slaughter (over three weeks) in 226 municipalities, in the Landes, western Gers and the north of the Pyrénées-Atlantiques…
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Cike Omicron in humans, the H5N1 avian influenza virus which is once again affecting farms in the South-West is galloping. Too fast for protective measures to stop him. On Wednesday January 19, the ministry, in agreement with professionals, announced an acceleration of the strategy to combat the virus.
After 1.2 million palmipeds and gallinaceae have already been slaughtered, an additional 1.3 million will be subject to massive, preventive and progressive slaughter (over three weeks) in 226 municipalities, in the Landes, western Gers and the north of the Pyrénées-Atlantiques. Objective: to put a stop to the circulation of the virus by creating a vast crawl space and crossing our fingers so that this time… it works.
1 A new traumatic crisis
The numbers are constantly moving. As of January 20, there were 245 outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza in farms, five in backyards and 22 in wildlife. The professionals and the State had nevertheless applied the roadmap adopted in the summer. From the first warning signals, on November 5, when the risk of the presence of the virus on the territory had become high, all the chicken and duck farms were placed under shelter, the densities reduced by 25% and the return to production extended by one week.
On November 26, a first outbreak was detected in the North then on December 16 in the South-West, followed by many others. The State services proved to be more reactive in carrying out slaughtering than during the previous epizootic. There were some hopes. We welcomed a slower spread of the virus, but the number of outbreaks continued to multiply. On December 30, the measures are again reinforced. Re-production prohibited and preventive slaughter ordered 1 km around the hearth for chickens, 3 km for ducks. 1.2 million animals are slaughtered. The sector which thought it had given itself the means to no longer relive the nightmare, must face it again. The trauma is immense.
