The Landes, country of foie gras with a high concentration of farms, had 110 outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza of the H5N1 type on Friday, according to the prefecture.
The Landes poultry world, won "by a deep feeling of injustice" in the face of this return of avian flu despite the sheltering of animals and with now more than 100 households in breeding, wants "to understand and have answers", said a manager.
Less than a month after the appearance of a first case in the department on December 17, more than two-thirds of the 165 outbreaks in breeding identified by the Ministry of Agriculture are now in this department.
In addition, 33 cases of suspected bird flu were Friday "awaiting confirmation", according to the prefecture.
Breeders already largely affected last winter
“It is between anger, amazement, dejection or dismay that we are experiencing this new episode”, wrote the president of the Chamber of Agriculture on Friday in a letter to Landes breeders, already strongly affected by the epizootic of the previous winter. (3.5 million poultry slaughtered, mainly ducks in the South-West).
"A deep feeling of injustice overwhelms us, as we were convinced that all the efforts made would bear fruit," adds Marie-Hélène Cazaubon.
“Last year, 60% of farms were outside under derogation.
This year, 95% of the animals were sheltered and production densities had been drastically reduced since September”.
“It is essential to understand and to have answers to know why, despite all the developments and investments made, our farming systems remain so fragile in the face of viral circulation”, she writes.
“Whether [the virus] spread so quickly and over such long distances remains a mystery.”
According to her, the current virus is “a variant of that of last year” and “lean poultry are much more susceptible to it”.
"Claustration has not been able to avoid a fourth crisis in six years"
To avoid contact with migratory birds potentially carrying the virus, the French authorities had asked all producers from the beginning of November to confine their poultry.
But the first cases were detected in conventional farms, in buildings, rekindling the anger of the agricultural unions Confédération paysanne and Modef who denounce "claustration, a flagship measure of the government", also supported by the main players in the sector, who do not has “failed to avoid a fourth crisis in six years”.
Epidemiological study
According to the prefecture, an epidemiological study is being carried out in the Landes by agents of the National Health and Food Safety Agency (ANSES) in order to understand the origin of the appearance of the first contaminations and the causes of the spread of the virus.
In total, 29 European countries are affected by bird flu during this period of north-south migration of birds, according to the Ministry of Agriculture.
Society
Avian flu: More than 150 farms infected in France, mostly in the Landes
Health
Avian flu: “No other solution in the long term” than the vaccine, according to the Minister of Agriculture
Health
Aquitaine
Mont-de-Marsan
Foie gras
epidemic
Ducks
Agriculture
Avian Flu
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