Avian influenza: France has been at high risk since November 9, 2024 – Avian influenza – Animals – State actions

Thursday 14th November 2024 05:28 AM

Updated on 14/11/2024

The Ministry of Agriculture, Food Sovereignty and Forestry has issued a ministerial decree qualifying the HPAI risk level as “High” across the entire national territory as of November 9, 2024.

This decision is based on the strong and persistent dynamic of circulation of the virus in wild avifauna in Europe, particularly migratory ones, in the migration corridors crossing France. These migrations have already started and are intensifying.

Thus, the detection in 2 backyard outbreaks (Pas de Calais / Saône et Loire) of the FR20 genotype testifies to the arrival in France of infected migratory wild birds. This FR20 genotype is the one identified in Europe in avifauna, while FR9 is the genotype found in Brittany in breeding and until now in native avifauna (gulls).

Currently, in Brittany, 10 HPAI outbreaks have been confirmed since mid-August 2024, including 3 in Finistère and 5 in the Morbihan department.

Another outbreak was also detected in Landes recently, as well as a 13th in Allier.

The website of the Ministry of Agriculture recalls the measures to be respected at the high level: https://agriculture.gouv.fr/influenza-aviaire-la-situation-en-france

The prefectural decrees for the IAHP Atlantic-Channel zone, taken on 09/18/2024 in seven departments including the 4 Breton departments, will soon be repealed because they have become irrelevant due to the move to the “High” risk level.

Measures in particular for sheltering poultry for professional breeding or confinement for farmyards are now applicable throughout the national territory:

We once again call on all stakeholders in the sector and territories to exercise the greatest vigilance, to apply the strictest of both biosecurity measures (in farmyards, breeding and transport) and measures linked to passive surveillance in palmiped farms and declaration to the French Biodiversity Office of any wild bird mortality in the territory.

Poultry are affected by avian influenza (in rare situations humans can be affected by avian flu)

Avian influenza and avian flu: what’s the difference? When the disease occurs in birds, it is called avian influenza. When human flu is caused by influenza A viruses of avian origin, it is called avian flu.
Avian influenza is a highly contagious animal disease caused by influenza type A viruses, which can affect many species of wild birds, pets and those in zoos.

There are two categories of viruses according to their virulence characteristics for birds:

low pathogenic viruses (LPI);
highly pathogenic viruses (HPAI), the latter all belonging to the H5 or H7 subtypes.

In its highly pathogenic form, the disease spreads very quickly among birds and can have significant consequences both on farms and for wildlife. It can cause very high mortality in certain species.

Avian influenza is a disease with zoonotic potential; the virus can therefore, under certain conditions, be transmitted to humans.
The virus then causes symptoms in humans that most often resemble a common cold or flu, which can in extremely rare cases be accompanied by respiratory problems.

To date, no human cases have been observed in France. However, it is recommended that people who have been in contact with infected poultry and who then show respiratory signs report this to their doctor.

To go further: https://agriculture.gouv.fr/tout-ce-quil-faut-savoir-sur-linfluenza-aviaire