Restriction measures in four departments in the South-West were lifted Thursday, due to the lower risk from avian flu, the Ministry of Agriculture said on Friday.
"Taking into account the sanitation work carried out in the farms and the observation of the absence of persistence of the virus, the reinforced surveillance zone which covered part of the Landes, Pyrénées-Atlantiques, Gers and Lot-et -Garonne is up on June 10, ”said the ministry in a press release.
"Almost all of the South-West is once again free from avian influenza and the restrictions put in place for several months in the municipalities concerned have been repealed," the statement added. The level of risk has been considered “negligible” throughout the metropolitan area since May 28. Since April 28, no new outbreak has been detected in breeding in France, nor any case in wildlife since May 3, says the ministry.
The H5N8 virus, present in migratory birds, spread this winter in farms in southwestern France, known for the production of foie gras.
Its progress ended up being halted at the cost of the slaughter - often preventive - of more than 3.5 million poultry, mainly ducks.
This episode led to prolonged production stoppages for breeders and deprived manufacturers of raw materials.
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