Translation Google
Avian Flu. The epidemic is racing in Maine-et-Loire: 430,000 poultry slaughtered
Sixteen contaminated outbreaks were detected in one week, mainly in the Beaupréau-en-Mauges and Sèvremoine sectors, bringing the total number to 26 identified since mid-September.
The Western Mail
Yves TRECA-DURAND
Published on07/12/2022 at 6:32 p.m.
''I have a suspicion that drops about every four hours''. Eric David is overwhelmed. During the telephone meeting with the local media, the departmental director of population protection spoke of a very worrying upsurge in cases of avian flu since last Friday, December 2. A phenomenon accentuated by the presence of contaminated wildlife and the drop in temperatures which allows the virus to persist .
To give an idea of the runaway nature of the avian influenza epizootic, remember that there were seven outbreaks listed between mid-September and mid-October, then a pause which lasted until the end of November when three cases were again found near La Renaudière and Cerqueux.
Between the strong suspicions which will undoubtedly be confirmed and the outbreaks already declared, we are at 26 this Wednesday evening , continues the representative of the prefecture. That is sixteen additional outbreaks in a single week, mainly in the Beaupréau-en-Mauges and Sèvremoine sectors.
Between clinical symptoms, decreases in food consumption and analytical monitoring around proven outbreaks, the number of cases is exploding, confirmed by laboratory results. It is therefore necessary to cut down without delay.
In total, 430,000 poultry – very mainly ducks but also turkeys, laying hens and broilers – are euthanized and sent for rendering. With a saturation problem accentuated by the approach of the holidays. Maine-et-Loire is not equipped with duck and turkey slaughterhouses and must refer to its Vendée neighbor, itself twice as affected by the epizootic.
A Dutch company called in as reinforcements to gas the animals
We are not waiting for confirmation results, we are trying to euthanize immediately on farms. But we are starting to be very, very accurate in terms of euthanasia and rendering. We don't waste time, but it takes two to three days to start euthanasia projects . Five teams operate in the Great West, adds Eric David. A Dutch company, Van Eck, which gasses animals in buildings, will also most certainly intervene in Maine-et-Loire to accelerate the movement.
In total, these slaughters represent 1,100 tonnes of poultry destined for rendering. In addition to Vendée, we have networked rendering centers in Cantal and Lot-et-Garonne. There is load shedding to Brittany too. We are not yet at saturation and we will do everything to avoid the burial of euthanized animals .
In the 3 km surveillance zone around the contaminated hearths, preventive depopulations of waterfowl and turkeys are strongly recommended to breeders despite the saturation of slaughterhouses.
The situation will stabilize when there are far fewer ducks and, to a lesser extent, turkeys , believes Eric David. The spread would thus be due to small biosecurity breaches in farms located in the immediate vicinity of bodies of water where there are wildlife .
After the first epidemic wave observed in the spring, this second peak of contamination has inevitable consequences on the economic situation of the farms affected. Since the start of the epidemic, we have paid 24 million euros in compensation. Almost all of the households identified in the spring have received a deposit, there are only a handful pending. We have paid for all the compulsory preventive depopulation, settled the slaughterhouses and laboratories but also part of the outbreaks declared in September and October , assures the representative of the State. This is health compensation but not economic, he further specifies, which should be much greater.
https://www.ouest-france.fr/pays-de...abattues-0f9062e0-7653-11ed-a671-02732ecaf821
