France has raised the risk level of bird flu from ‘moderate’ to ‘high’ following the identification of new cases. Poultry farms across the country have been instructed to keep birds indoors in an effort to prevent the spread of this highly contagious virus.
Avian influenza, commonly known as bird flu, has been responsible for the culling of millions of birds globally in recent years. The virus has been steadily spreading across European nations, including Germany, the Netherlands, and Belgium.
The first outbreak in France was detected on a farm located in Brittany, situated in the northwest region of the country. Shortly afterward, another outbreak was identified among turkeys in the Somme department in northern France.
Experts have highlighted that the riskiest period for bird flu is from November to February/March. To combat the spread of the virus, all poultry must be kept indoors on farms, and additional security measures should be implemented.
The propagation of bird flu is of great concern to both governments and the poultry industry due to potential trade restrictions and the risk of human transmission. As a result, France launched a vaccination campaign in October, initially targeting ducks. The goal is to vaccinate over 60 million ducks. However, progress in the campaign has been slow, and the industry is closely monitoring the effectiveness of this strategy.
With the bird flu risk level now raised to ‘high’ in France and the virus spreading across Europe, the poultry industry and governments are under pressure to prevent further outbreaks. Strict measures, such as keeping birds indoors and monitoring the vaccination campaign, are being implemented to safeguard public health and mitigate potential economic consequences.
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