January 3, 2025

Bird flu cases confirmed in farms in France's northwestern Normandy

France's agriculture ministry said authorities confirmed new cases of avian influenza or HPAI, commonly known as bird flu, on two farms in the northwestern Normandy region.

"As a direct consequence of these outbreaks, France loses its HPAI-free status, that it had just regained on December 15," the ministry said in a statement published on January 30.

The disease-free status, which means no reported outbreaks for at least a month, allows trade with importing countries.

In a separate notification to the World organisation for animal health, French authorities said the entire flocks on the two farms – one with 25,000 birds, the other with 540 – would be culled as a safety measure.

France has been able to slow the spread of bird flu better than in previous years due to a vaccination programme required for ducks raised for foie gras, which are particularly vulnerable.

The country nonetheless remains on high alert for the virus given continued risks of contamination from migrating wild birds, the agriculture ministry said.

- RFI