France - Strong suspicion of avian influenza in poultry on a farm in Ille-et-Vilaine - confirmed

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Strong suspicion of avian influenza in a Breton farm

The first outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) of the 2024-2025 season is strongly suspected in a farm in Ille-et-Vilaine.

Published on August 12, 2024 - By Pascal Le Douarin
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"A strong suspicion of HPAI ( highly pathogenic avian influenza , Editor's note) has been raised in a farm" in Combourg, halfway between Rennes and Saint-Malo, announced the Departmental Directorate for Population Protection of Ille-et-Vilaine in a message sent to professionals on August 12.

The farm includes 500 animals (chickens, laying hens, ducks, guinea fowl and geese), indoors and outdoors. The owner is said to be engaged in the poultry trading business.

By means of a prefectural decree of August 11, the public authorities have set up a temporary regulated zone within a radius of 10 km in three municipalities: Combourg, Lourmais and Meillac-la-Villée. The movement of poultry is "prohibited at this stage" , indicates the prefecture.

If confirmed, this case will be the first of the 2024-2025 season, which started on August 1 .

During the 2023-2024 season, marked by the introduction of mandatory vaccination of ducks, France recorded ten outbreaks in livestock and 33 in wildlife, compared to almost 400 in 2022-2023 and 1,400 in 2021-2022. This drop in viral pressure was observed across the EU.

In France, a new vaccination campaign is expected for October, but the Minister of Agriculture has not yet presented his decision on its financing, to the great displeasure of professionals.

https://www.reussir.fr/volailles/suspicion-forte-dinfluenza-aviaire-dans-un-elevage-breton

 

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Establishment of a protection and surveillance zone in Ille-et-Vilaine

Updated on 08/14/2024

An outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) has just been confirmed in a 1,200-bird poultry farm in northern Ille-et-Vilaine. The animals have been confined in the farm buildings, pending an organized depopulation on Tuesday, August 13, 2024.

This first outbreak comes in the wake of the wildlife cases observed along the Breton coast in recent weeks. In order to prevent the spread of the virus, the prefect of Ille-et-Vilaine has decided to set up a regulated protection and surveillance zone, within a radius of 3 and 10 kilometers around the contaminated establishment, from August 13, 2024.

An epidemiological investigation is underway to find the probable origin of the contamination: location of the farm (for example, presence near wetlands that could attract birds), management of the farm, movements of animals (in and out), movements of personnel, other movements (for example, feed supplier).

In this area, 2 axes of epidemiological surveillance are set up:

► On wildlife
The services of the French Biodiversity Office (OFB), supported by the departmental federation of hunters, are responsible for monitoring the collection of wild birds found dead for analysis, using the network for monitoring the causes of mortality in wild animals (SAGIR network). In the event that the carcasses of wild birds are not handed over to the authorities, they must be taken care of by the town hall of the municipality, which will make them available for rendering.

► On poultry farms
A census is carried out of all places of detention of poultry, commercial or non-commercial farms, and other captive birds in connection with the town halls. The surveillance and monitoring of agricultural holdings is carried out by health veterinarians who will ensure a systematic visit.

• Gatherings of poultry or other captive birds such as fairs, markets and exhibitions are prohibited in the protection zone and surveillance zone.
• The placement and movement of poultry, day-old chicks and hatching eggs out of the farm are prohibited in the protection zone and surveillance zone.

Informing holidaymakers and coastal users

In general, and in order to limit the spread of the virus, which can have significant economic consequences, professionals in the poultry sector, like individuals who own poultry, are reminded to strictly respect biosecurity measures throughout the department and to remain extremely vigilant.

The prefect therefore reminds everyone of the barrier gestures in order to limit the transmission of the virus between animals:

• Avoid all contact with wild birds including feathers and droppings
• Do not pick up or touch wild, sick or dead birds.
• Do not come into contact with domestic birds

Know the right reflexes

In this context, the discovery of the carcasses of wild birds or sick birds must be reported immediately to the town hall of the place of discovery and to the French Office for Biodiversity:

• by email: sd35@ofb.gouv.fr

The carcasses must not be handled and any person potentially in contact with birdlife (hunter, walker, forester, farmer or other) must take all precautions to avoid introducing the virus into the domestic compartment.

For operators or individuals, if abnormal mortality is observed, the holder is invited to immediately contact their veterinarian or the departmental directorate in charge of protecting populations in Ille-et-Vilaine.

• by email ddpp@ille-et-vilaine.gouv.fr

As a reminder: this virus is not transmissible to humans, but it can affect domestic birds. It therefore represents a risk for poultry farming. The consumption of meat, foie gras and eggs – and more generally any food product made from poultry – does not present any risk to humans.

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https://www.ille-et-vilaine.gouv.fr...nfluenza-aviaire-Confirmation-d-un-foyer-IAHP

 

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See also:
France - High pathogenicity avian influenza viruses (poultry) (Inf. with) - Immediate notification
https://flutrackers.com/forum/forum...ruses-poultry-inf-with-immediate-notification