Avian flu: 16 million poultry slaughtered in France, the epizootic "decelerates"

A sad record.

16 million poultry have been slaughtered in France since the start of the bird flu epizootic in November, the Ministry of Agriculture announced on Monday, which is a record in the territory.

This process nevertheless allowed the epizootic to decrease.

“The epidemic peak was passed at the end of March and the epizootic is decelerating”, explains the ministry.

Since the first case recorded in the north of France at the end of November, 1,364 farms have been infected with the virus, including 857 outbreaks recorded in Vendée and in the neighboring departments, where the authorities are emptying farms via mass slaughter of sick animals. but also healthy, preventively.

3.5 million animals slaughtered last year

Avian influenza has a seasonal character.

Transported by migrating birds from Asia, it usually begins to develop in October in Europe and continues until April.

Crises linked to avian flu generally remain confined to the South-West, in particular to duck farms intended for the production of foie gras.

Last year, nearly 500 outbreaks were recorded in farms and 3.5 million animals, mainly ducks, were slaughtered.

Read alsoWhat will be the consequences of avian flu on our shelves?

This year for the first time, wild birds contaminated farms during their migration from southern countries, which led to a second wave, which is coming to an end.

“It is especially the gallus – a variety of hen – which are affected”, specifies the ministry about this wave.