A new outbreak of avian flu was discovered over the weekend in a breeding farm in the North, whose animals must be slaughtered, the prefecture announced on Monday, ten days after a first case in a French farm in the same department.
Read also Avian influenza: a first outbreak in breeding detected in the North of France
“
This weekend, a new focus of avian influenza was discovered in the town of Winnezeele,
” wrote the northern prefecture in a
press
release.
In order to prevent any spread of the virus beyond this outbreak, the slaughter of farm animals begins Monday, before disinfection of the site, continues the prefecture.
A protection zone (3 km around the outbreak) and a surveillance zone (10 km) have also been established.
"
Two other suspicions of avian influenza, in farms located in the surveillance and protection zones established, are being investigated,
" said the press release.
Second proven outbreak
After being spotted among wild birds and in a few French backyards, avian influenza was identified on November 26 in a laying hen farm in the town of Warhem (North).
This first case in a breeding had again caused France to lose its “
free
”
status
from avian influenza, which it had just regained on September 2.
Contacted by AFP, the prefecture did not provide details on the new affected farm and the type of virus identified.
On Warhem's breeding, it was the H5N1 virus, the ministry said.
Read also Foie gras, turkeys and capons at the Christmas meeting despite the avian flu
Since the beginning of August, “
numerous outbreaks of avian influenza have been detected in wildlife or in farms in Europe, particularly on the shores of the North Sea and the Baltic Sea.
In recent months, the health authorities of many Member States (Netherlands, Germany, Italy, etc.) have notified outbreaks in poultry farms (turkeys and broilers, laying hens)
”, summarizes the Ministry of 'Agriculture on its website.
