Dramatic decline in bird flu outbreaks in France

Poultry farmers in southwest France may resume production at their facilities after the country recently reported a decline in bird flu outbreaks. The number of new virus outbreaks in France dropped to five in the first week of March, compared to nearly 130 in the first week of January, while no new cases were reported in the hardest-hit Landes region in the last month.

France is among the European countries where the H5N8 avian influenza virus has spread from wild birds to domestic birds this winter. Authorities slaughtered flocks en masse to contain the disease, with France slaughtering about 3 million birds, mostly ducks. “This means that the drastic measures taken to limit the spread of the virus have paid off,” the Ministry of Agriculture said in a statement.

Farms in the southwestern regions that were previously subjected to mass slaughter will be able to resume breeding some bird species, including chickens, although flocks are kept indoors. However, the ban on raising ducks and geese in these areas will remain in place until the H5N8 epidemic is completely contained, given the particular vulnerability of these animals to the virus, the ministry added.

The risk of bird flu remains high in France and Europe, the ministry said, reviewing two cases this week in northeastern France and 39 cases in wild birds in Europe over the weekend.