November 6, 2020

Half of France on high alert for bird flu

France is placing about half of the country on high alert for bird flu after cases of the disease were reported in western Europe since October, the government said in a decree published in its official journal, Reuters reported.

About half of France's administrative departments will be classed as high risk, while the rest of the country will be on medium alert.

The high alert level requires poultry farms to keep birds indoors or install protective netting to prevent contact with wild birds.

According to the government, the presence of the virus in wild animals near France's borders, in a migratory channel that crosses national territory, justifies the raising of the risk level.

The measure replaces a previous decree from late October that had increased surveillance in wetland zones that attract migrating birds.