The risk level for avian flu, considered "high" since December, was lowered on Saturday to "moderate" in view of "favorable health elements", announced the Ministry of Agriculture in a press release.
“The improvement in the health situation makes it possible to lower the level of risk”, indicates the Ministry of Agriculture, specifying that France “has not detected any new outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in breeding since on January 16", and none in wildlife since February 12.
To date, France has “recorded a total of ten outbreaks” on livestock since the first detection on a farm at the end of November.
“For comparison, 315 outbreaks were recorded on the same date last year,” specifies the ministry.
In addition, the virus has “a low health incidence in the upward migration corridors crossing France”, specifies the ministry, citing “favorable health elements, resulting from the reduced circulation of the virus in Europe and especially from the unprecedented vaccination campaign carried out successfully by France.
France, the only European country where the vaccine is compulsory
This improvement in the health situation “should not, however, lead to a relaxation of prevention”, specifies the ministry, which asks “all stakeholders in the sector to maintain their vigilance and respect strict application of the biosecurity measures in force ".
This winter, France was largely spared from avian flu thanks to the combination of less circulation of the virus in Europe and the vaccination of ducks, which it is the only European country to practice, indicated on March 8 a head of the Anses health agency.
France has made the vaccination of farmed birds compulsory on farms with more than 250 non-breeding ducks, for the first time in 2023.