Due to the increase in the circulation of the virus responsible for highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI H5) in Europe, France is once again raising its risk level.
The decision to raise the level of epizootic risk to its maximum across the entire territory 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;
• The circulation of the HPAI H5 virus in Europe is earlier than last year;
• In addition, the detection in the two backyard outbreaks (Pas-de-Calais / Saône-et-Loire) of the FR20 genotype demonstrates 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 France on farms and until now in native avifauna (gulls).
• Sheltering of poultry is justified as a measure to control the introduction of HPAI viruses to reduce or eliminate the interface between wild birds and domestic birds. Indeed, all the genotyping of the strains isolated in the outbreaks this season correspond to genotypes regularly detected in wild avifauna.
• This sheltering is also justified for vaccinated ducks because vaccination cannot prevent the introduction of the HPAI virus in all cases.
• Vaccination reduces excretion and thus limits possible spread between farms.
For more details on the health situation, extract from the latest bulletin of the
epidemiological surveillance platform (page 19).
Thus, the decree of October 31, 2024 (published on November 8, 2024 in the Official Journal) increases the risk level from “moderate” to “high” across the entire metropolitan territory. It has the effect of strengthening prevention and biosecurity measures for the breeding sectors but also for hunters.
The move to “high” risk strengthens the protection system for poultry farms and generalizes prevention measures across the entire territory.
In Côte-d'Or, this decision leads to the immediate implementation of reinforced prevention and biosecurity measures:
– Closure or protection by nets of birds kept in establishments with fewer than 50 poultry or captive birds (farmyards, zoological parks, etc.);
– Sheltering of poultry, and protection of feeding and watering of birds in establishments keeping more than 50 poultry;
– Mandatory equipment for vehicles intended for the transport of waterfowl older than three days 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 March 31, 2025;
– Restrictions on the transport of calling birds and ban on the release of feathered game of the Anatidae family.
These reinforced measures complement the compulsory vaccination campaign
launched in France since October 1, 2023 for commercial farms keeping more than 250 ducks. Surveillance, biosecurity and vaccination are complementary pillars of HPAI prevention.
France
