High Level Threat Declared in France Due to Avian Influenza

The Minister of Agriculture and Food Sovereignty of the Republic, Julien Denormandie, has announced an escalation of the threat level due to the rapid spread of avian influenza in Europe. This was reported by the ministry's press service on November 5, as highlighted by Armenpress.

“The development of the avian influenza epidemic in Europe now forces us to raise the level of risk and take the necessary measures to ensure the protection of our sector,” Denormandie’s statement is quoted in the report.

The ministry specifies that due to the high risk of infection, birds must be kept indoors or under nets. Additionally, for birds in zoos that cannot be sheltered, mandatory vaccination is being imposed. Another restriction pertains to the ban on competitions involving racing pigeons.

The agency emphasized that these measures should be accompanied by daily monitoring of the health status of birds on all farms. According to the ministry, since the beginning of August, 130 cases of avian influenza have been registered in the wild and in poultry farms across Europe, particularly along the coasts of the North and Baltic Seas. Three outbreak sites have been identified in the Ardèche and Ain departments.

Avian influenza is an acute infectious viral disease affecting the digestive and respiratory organs, leading to the death of birds. Typically, wild species are the carriers. Most of the strains of this disease, including H5N8, are not dangerous to humans, TASS reported.