No outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza has been detected in farms in France since March 14 thanks to the concerted action of State services and professionals. This evolution of the health situation allows the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Sovereignty to adapt the restrictive measures put in place since November 2022. However, due to the cases remaining detected in wildlife and the migration of birds in progress towards the north of Europe, the vigilance of all the actors must be maintained, indicates the ministry of agriculture in a press release.
The favorable health situation on the national territory vis-à-vis highly pathogenic influenza in poultry farms makes it possible to alleviate some of the prevention and surveillance systems reinforced and deployed since November 21, 2022:
In free zones, waterfowl, which remain subject to the obligation of sheltering throughout the territory, may be authorized to go out on a reduced outdoor route (with maintenance of equipment to protect the animals from contact with the wild fauna: nets, fences, etc. if high outside temperature criteria are observed on several successive days, with a view to animal well-being.
Thus, the mandatory sheltering measures for poultry reared in the open air throughout the country have been revised accordingly, on the basis of ANSES Opinion No. 2022-SA-0157 and in consultation with the poultry sectors.
The objective is twofold: to adapt the conditions for sheltering poultry according to the types of production and the particular situation of each farm, by integrating health parameters into the individual risk analysis (epidemiological context, water, proximity to free wildlife) and animal welfare.
Encourage the breeder to continuously improve the biosecurity of his farm by refining his biosecurity control plan (cleaning and disinfection measures, protection of food from contact with wildlife, etc.).
While wildlife mortalities have fallen sharply in France, they remain high in Europe.
Moreover, the average temperatures are not yet high enough to permanently eliminate the virus from the environment and the migrations of wild birds are continuing, constituting an additional risk factor.
The Ministry of Agriculture and Food Sovereignty reminds all actors that, if the health situation with regard to avian influenza seems to have stabilized, vigilance must be maintained, concludes the ministry.
