"We are in the management of a huge crisis, a real viral fire," Bernard Malabirade, president of the Gers Chamber of Agriculture, where 41 outbreaks of bird flu have been counted, told AFP.
In the neighboring department of Landes, 14 outbreaks have been detected, according to figures from the agricultural union Modef, against only four on May 17. "The contamination is massive," the union said Monday.
According to Modef, 900,000 animals have been slaughtered in the three departments of the South-West since the beginning of May, which makes it "a major crisis and not just a resurgence of the virus," says Christophe Mesplède, vice-president of the union in the Landes.
In the Gers, where the situation is "evolving" according to Bernard Malabirade, a new epicenter has appeared near Masseube, in the south of the department, where several outbreaks have been detected.
"The situation there is not good, it is even out of control," Malabirade said.
"The virus previously concentrated in the west of the department now extends to the south," confirmed the prefecture of Gers to AFP, referring to the first cases spotted near the Landes in early May.
The epizootic had a lull in March and April, before resuming, much earlier than usual.
While the arrival of ducklings on farms is due to take place in June, farmers are already worried about end-of-year production, which is essential to maintaining the economy of the sector.
"Christmas is being played out now and the gravity of this crisis is being played out today. If depopulation continues, we are dead," said Mélanie Martin, president of Modef.
During this 2022-23 epizootic, six million poultry were slaughtered in France according to the Ministry of Agriculture, after the slaughter of 22 million poultry in 2021-2022.
© 2023 AFP