Updated on 14/11/2024
Avian influenza is a viral and contagious infectious animal disease that affects wild and farmed birds. The symptoms are mainly respiratory, digestive or nervous, or simply a loss of appetite or egg laying. Influenza can cause high mortality in farmed birds and completely disrupt the poultry farming industry. This virus does not affect the quality of meat and egg products which can be consumed without risk.
In France, the first outbreaks of HPAI were detected during the month of August 2024. Currently, the avian influenza virus is actively circulating among wild birds during this period of North-South migration. Furthermore, several outbreaks have been confirmed in livestock buildings (Pas de Calais, Brittany, Landes, Saône and Loire). In Isère to date, no bird, wild or captive, has been found infected with the HPAI virus.
The appearance of HPAI outbreaks on farms, combined with the detection of the virus in wildlife, has led to thea Minister of Agriculture to issue an order, published on November 8, 2024increasing the risk level to “ ANDLEVAND» ( decree of October 31, 2024 qualifying the level of risk in terms of highly pathogenic avian influenza).
This involves implementing the following measures:
- Closure or protection by nets of birds kept in establishments with fewer than 50 poultry or captive birds (farmyards, zoos);
- Sheltering of birds in establishments keeping more than 50 poultry;
- Mandatory equipment for vehicles intended for the transport of waterflies over three days old with tarpaulins or equivalent preventing any significant loss of feathers and down by a full or empty truck
- Prohibition of gatherings of poultry and captive birds;
- Ban on racing pigeon competitions until April 10, 2025;
- Restrictions on the transport of calling birds and a ban on the release of game birds of the Anatidae family.
These reinforced measures complement the biosecurity measures to be applied on a permanent basis, in particular the protection of food and drink.
Please note that all bird keepers are required to declare:
- with the departmental directorate for population protection (DDPP) for professionals;
- from the mayor of the place where the birds are kept or online for non-professionals.
Keepers of birds kept permanently inside premises used as a home or office are not required to make this declaration.
For professionals, possible exemptions from certain measures must be requested from the departmental population protection directorate (DDPP) or through the livestock veterinarian.
In the event of abnormal mortality in a farmyard or on a farm :
Contact your veterinarian (as a first step) or the departmental population protection directorate (DDPP).
In the event of discovery of dead birds by walkers:
Do not touch them and note the location of discovery and the type of bird. Mortalities of wild birds, without obvious cause, must be reported to the departmental branch of the French Biodiversity Office (OFB)
To find out more:
https://agriculture.gouv.fr/tout-ce-quil-faut-savoir-sur-linfluenza-aviaire
To declare the keeping of birds (barnyard):
https://www.mesdemarches.agriculture.gouv.fr/demarches/particulier/effectuer-une-declaration-55/article/declarer-la-detention-de-volailles?id_rubrique=55
For any additional information or to report abnormal mortality:
- for bird keepers (professionals and individuals): contact your veterinarian and/or the DDPP of Isère ([email protected] – 04 56 59 49 99)
- for wild birds in the natural environment: OFB – Isère branch ([email protected] – 04 76 55 24 53).
