January 8, 2024

Bird flu detected in French duck farm despite vaccination efforts

France has reported a case of bird flu on a duck farm in the Vendee region, marking the first outbreak since the country initiated bird flu vaccinations last year, Channel News Asia reported.

The farm ministry revealed that highly pathogenic avian influenza was identified on a farm in the town of Notre Dame de Riez, affecting 8,700 ducks, all of which had been previously vaccinated.

Bird flu, transmitted by migrating wild birds and capable of spreading between farms, has posed a global threat in recent years, causing disruptions in the poultry supply chain, elevating food prices, and raising concerns about potential human transmission.

In response to the ongoing threat, France launched a vaccination campaign in October of the previous year, focusing on ducks due to their role as carriers without displaying symptoms. The vaccination aims to limit the spread of the virus, supplementing standard biosecurity measures and control protocols.

France took the pioneering step of vaccinating poultry, particularly ducks, despite facing trade barriers from nations fearing potential unnoticed virus spread. The vaccination does not provide complete immunity but serves to mitigate the virus's transmission, reducing the need for extensive culling. This strategy aligns with France's commitment to biosecurity measures.

After detecting new cases last month, France elevated the bird flu risk level from 'moderate' to 'high.' This prompted measures such as confining poultry indoors to prevent the highly contagious virus from spreading.

Since November 27, 2023, the agriculture ministry reported seven bird flu outbreaks in France, affecting turkeys, laying hens, and ducks.

-      Channel News Asia