Faced with the progression of avian flu in Europe, the French authorities spent Thursday 46 departments at "high" risk of introduction of avian flu by migratory birds.
The transition to a "high" risk imposes an obligation to contain poultry or the laying of nets in order to avoid contact.
The French authorities spent Thursday 46 departments at "high" risk of introduction of avian flu by migratory birds, according to a decree published in the Official Journal, in particular forcing breeders to confine poultry or to lay protective nets.
These restrictions are justified by "the need to take urgent and immediate preventive measures to protect French poultry farms from potential contamination by the avian influenza virus by wild birds, in particular in areas at particular risk or the departments crossed. by migration corridors ", according to this decree.
Reinforced protection measures
Departments known for their production of foie gras, such as Landes and Gers, in particular, are among these areas.
The risk remains qualified as "moderate" in the other departments.
France is to date free from highly pathogenic avian influenza.
The return of this virus to the national territory would have major economic consequences for the sector, which could see export outlets closed.
Duck farmers in the South-West were struck twice, during the winters of 2015-2016 and 2016-2017, by epizootics of avian influenza, which had caused mass culling to eradicate the disease and cost hundreds of millions of dollars. euros to producers.
The transition to a "high" risk triggers the introduction of reinforced protective measures, including the obligation of containment or the laying of nets to prevent contact with wild birds for all commercial poultry farms and backyards.
In addition, gatherings of live poultry are prohibited, in particular in markets, as are the releases of game birds by hunters.
It is, according to the presentation of the Ministry of Agriculture in its decree, to "take into account the unfavorable health development vis-à-vis avian influenza in birds in Europe".
Bird flu has arrived in the Netherlands
Since the outbreaks in Russia and Kazakhstan this summer, the epizootic, which poses no danger to humans, has progressed westward, recently reaching the Netherlands.
"Since then, a dynamic of infection has been packed with 13 cases in wildlife and one outbreak in broiler chicken farming in the Netherlands and 13 cases in wild birds in Germany were declared. On November 3, the Kingdom -Uni also declares a first outbreak, in the north-west of England, "said the ministry.