French poultry sector agrees to avian flu prevention measures

Last week, stakeholders in the French poultry industry and those from local administrations agreed a number of measures to prevent the reemergence of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI), which has caused devastation to part of the country’s production since the end of last year.

Photo by Andrea Gantz
Photo by Andrea Gantz

Last week, stakeholders in the French poultry industry and those from local administrations agreed a number of measures to prevent the reemergence of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI), which has caused devastation to part of the country’s production since the end of last year.

In other European countries, the apparent decline in the discovery of new outbreaks of the disease appears to be continuing. Based on official reports the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) and from national veterinary authorities, only Germany and Italy have reported new outbreaks in commercial poultry over the last week, and only one in each country. There have been new cases in backyard flocks in Romania and Russia, and the virus has been detected in wild birds in Finland and the Netherlands.

In France, stakeholders agree to measures to prevent HPAI’s return

Last week, agriculture minister, Stéphane Le Foll met with poultry industry groups and representatives from a number of regions and departments, according to the French agriculture ministry, with the aim to reach agreement on how to increase the responsiveness of the poultry sector to HPAI, and reduce the risk of the re-emergence of the disease.

Following a wide-ranging discussion, 32 signatories agreed to improve disease detection and responses to it, to secure the production chain and transport links, and to strengthen farm biosecurity. Calling for action at European and international level, it was also concluded that a system of economic support for HPAI-affected premises must be established.

The Minister announced that, from April 14, the disease risk level would be reduced to “moderate,” which means that free-range birds need no longer be housed, and some poultry events can now take place.

Le Foll said the agreement represents a first step in a return to normal poultry production in the region recently affected by avian flu.

Since March 29, the agriculture ministry has not updated its web site on the number of HPAI outbreaks. The figure then stood at 485.

In the last week, France has reported to the OIE that the H5N3 low-pathogenic avian influenza virus was detected at three farms at the end of March. The birds, including two flocks of ducks, were tested prior to transportation. Two of the farms are in the department of Lot-et-Garonne, and one in Deux-Sèvres.

Germany, Italy each report one new H5N8 outbreaks in commercial poultry

Germany’s federal ministry of food and agriculture (BMEL) reports the latest count of confirmed HPAI outbreaks caused by the H5N8 virus now stands at 103, an increase of just one from the previous week. The figure includes 16 outbreaks at zoos and animal parks - a total unchanged from a week ago.

BMEL reports 28 active HPAI outbreaks in the country – six fewer than last week – and the number of resolved outbreaks has increased by seven to 78. These figures include three outbreaks of HPAI caused by the H5N5 virus variant.

There has been a further outbreak of H5N8 HPAI in Italy, bringing the total in the country so far to 15, according to the health authority and research organization for animal health and food safety (IZSVe). Latest to be affected is a flock of just over 13,000 seven-week-old turkeys in Verona province in the region of Veneto. Symptoms were observed in one of the four poultry houses. All the birds have been humanely destroyed, and the usual control measures have been set up in the area.

As of April 13, IZSVe reports that culling was still on-going at a previous outbreak in a layer flock in Bologna province in Emilia-Romagna.

Following previous outbreaks in the same area, Romania’s veterinary authority has reported to the OIE two more outbreaks of HPAI caused by the H5N8 virus in backyard flocks around Dracea in Teleorman county. There was also an outbreak in a small flock in the capital, Bucharest, and a dead swan in another backyard unit in Ialomita tested positive for the virus.

Russia’s animal health agency has informed OIE about one recent outbreak of HPAI in backyard poultry in Moscow oblast.

As previously announced, from April 13, the agriculture department (Defra) of the UK government changed its rules over the Prevention Zone for the control of HPAI. Following a period without signs of the HPAI virus, all poultry in England are now allowed outside again. Previously, owners were required to keep their birds housed, or to cover the outside range area in netting in areas regarded as at higher risk of the disease.

From Ukraine, the ministry of agrarian policy and food has reported to the OIE that the Kherson region is now free of HPAI, having experienced no new outbreaks for three months.

HPAI virus detected in wild birds

Over the last week, OIE has received reports from the respective national veterinary authorities that the H5N8 HPAI virus has been detected in more wild birds in Finland (one eagle) and the Netherlands (105 wild ducks).

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