Ten million poultry have been slaughtered in France since November to stem bird flu.

The toll is much heavier than in previous years due to an unprecedented outbreak in the Pays de la Loire region.

This episode is the most severe that the country has experienced, accustomed to seeing cases concentrated in farms in the South-West.

First case end of November

Since the first case identified in the north of France at the end of November, nearly 1,000 farms have been infected with the virus, including at least 450 in Vendée, where the authorities are in the process of emptying poultry farms through mass slaughter of sick but also healthy animals – preventively.

In a few weeks, the toll in this hitherto unscathed department has become much heavier than that of Landes (231), a production area regularly affected since 2015. The number of cases is also increasing in the departments bordering Vendée: 70 in Loire-Atlantique, 58 in Maine-et-Loire.

The Pays de la Loire in the viewfinder

Nearly half of the ten million animals slaughtered in France due to this crisis come from the Pays de la Loire region, the second largest production territory for French poultry after Brittany, where two cases have also recently been identified.

Ordinarily, crises linked to avian influenza remain generally confined to the South-West, in particular to duck farms intended for the production of foie gras.

Last year, nearly 500 outbreaks were recorded in farms and 3.5 million animals, mainly ducks, slaughtered.

Stabilization in the Southwest

In the South-West, the number of outbreaks "is stabilizing, although new sporadic outbreaks of infection are still being detected," the same source said.

A total of 34 European countries have been affected by the virus this year.

In addition to French farms, those in northern Italy were particularly affected, with 18 million poultry slaughtered.

Planet

Avian flu: "Very difficult" situation in Vendée, with at least 450 infected farms

Planet

Expansion of avian flu: millions of animals to be slaughtered in the Great West

  • Avian Flu

  • Health

  • Pays de la Loire

  • South West

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