Avian flu: measures taken to avoid epidemic

The D1.1 strain of the H5N1 Avian Influenza virus, a source of a strong epidemic among birds in the USA and in question in observed human cases, was spotted for the first time in dairy cows in Nevada. This discovery, announced on February 6, 2025, strongly worries the scientific community. The latter fear worsening the situation and a pandemic risk for humans.

It is in this little -serene health context that the ministry responsible for health and access to care, the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Sovereignty, Public Health France and the National Agency for Health Security of the Food, environment and work (ANSES) have decided to strengthen their cooperation to better prevent and fight against avian flu.

Avian flu: measures to avoid contamination

The health authorities recognize, in a joint press releasethat the international situation concerning the circulation of the highly pathogenic avianza virus (IAHP) of H5N1 subtype “is worrying, especially in the United States”. And if no interhuman transmission in the world and no human case in France have been detected at the moment, the various health organizations have worked together to improve their collaboration and the monitoring of viruses. Objective: to intervene quickly in the event of human contamination.

The measures taken to combat the circulation of avian flu viruses provide:

• The awareness of professionals exposed in the context of their activity (breeders, veterinarians, etc.): in addition to seeing their attention attracted to animal prevention and protection methods, they are also aware of vaccination against seasonal flu. This allows “To prevent an influenza virus from animal origin to recombine a virus of the human flu and become more pathogenic for the human being”.
• The management of PCR diagnostic tests for seasonal flu throughout the year for the most exposed people who have symptoms.
• An Active Aviary Flu Active Surveillance Pilot (saga) has been set up: its objective is to detect the disease more early and take suitable management measures.
• Compulsory duck vaccination: This device, launched in October 2023, has already drastically reduced the number of households. A dozen had been detected in farming in France in 2023/24 against around 400 each year before the vaccine.
• Reinforced monitoring of the state of health of domestic poultry and wild birds is ensured.

H5N1 virus: preventive measures to be ready in the event of an epidemic

The Ministry of Agriculture and Food Sovereignty, Public Health France and the National Agency for Food, Environment and Labor Safety (ANSES) also established a “Pandemic Risk Preparation Strategy” .

It is largely based on vaccination. Vaccine stocks have thus been established “For people who would have been in contact with a sick person or animal if a virus became transmitted to humans.” In addition, other doses have been “Pre-reserved” in “Anticipation of the emergence of a grippal pandemic”.

In addition, France has also made stocks of masks and antivirals “Efficient for symptomatic sick people”. “We are ready to test, trace, isolate … It reminds us of another episode”assured Grégory Emery, the director general of health at a press conference and taken up by BFM.