Despite the massive culling of ducks, the avian influenza H5N8 virus was detected in 17 new outbreaks in farms and in wildlife.
Avian flu continues to spread in France. The Ministry of Agriculture has just updated its list of H5N8 outbreaks and reports 129 outbreaks in farms, mainly in the South-West, and 8 cases in wildlife.
Thus, since January 12, 15 new outbreaks in farms have been identified, especially in the Landes or Gers departments which have 34 and 66 cases respectively. These are the most affected departments.
In addition, new birds dead from avian influenza H5N8 were reported in Ain where two swans were recovered from a pond in the town of Bouligneux. Mallard ducks in the town of Nerac (Tarn) have also been identified.
Europe also affected
Due to the progression of the epizootic, the prefectures of Landes and Pyrénées-Atlantiques have announced “a temporary freeze” of all movements of palmipeds by creating a “temporary control zone” in all of the two departments. This measure comes on top of the mass slaughter of nearly a million non-sick poultry “which is producing its first results”.
Our European neighbors are also mobilizing against avian flu. According to the animal health epidemiological surveillance platform (ESA), the number of outbreaks of avian influenza H5N8 is now 809 (against 724 last week), including 368 cases identified in wildlife (58 different species affected), 428 in breeding and 13 cases in birds in captivity.
This strain is highly pathogenic for palpimedes but does not present any danger to humans because it cannot be transmitted to humans from animals. Thus poultry meat, eggs and other derived products can be consumed.
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