The Ministry of Agriculture and Food calls on French livestock producers to be vigilant. The H5N8 avian influenza virus was detected in two swans in the Netherlands on October 20, 2020. It is “highly pathogenic”, ie it causes disease.
Why is the ministry raising the alert?
“Highly pathogenic avian influenza is an infectious, viral, highly contagious animal disease that affects birds”. An avian flu epidemic would be really unwelcome, because the health situation is worsening in Europe, because of the Covid-19 pandemic. It is the professionals of the poultry industry and the national federation of hunters who transmitted the information. Decisions were therefore taken accordingly. Julien Denormandie, the Minister of Agriculture and Food “calls for strict compliance with biosecurity measures and increased surveillance on the part of professional actors, individuals who keep birds, and hunters.” Indeed, these two cases cause a risk of introduction of the virus in France, via the migration corridors that wild birds currently use. Preventive measures have therefore been taken to prevent avian flu from entering the territory.
The level of risk identified
From October 26, municipalities located in so-called special risk areas (ZRP), such as wetlands frequented by migratory birds, are concerned by the strengthening of prevention measures. Confinement (isolation) or the protection of poultry farms by a net with reduction of outdoor routes for animals is compulsory. The participation of ZRP birds in gatherings or the transport and release of game birds is prohibited. Across the country, a “daily clinical monitoring in commercial farms”Must be in place. It is also forbidden to organize “racing pigeon competitions departing or arriving from a cited department”. In addition, vaccination is made compulsory in zoos for birds that cannot be confined or protected under a net. Note that to date, “France is free from avian influenza. The consumption of meat, fatty liver and eggs does not present any risk for humans.”
