A first case of bird flu has been detected in the Dordogne. According to information from France Bleu Périgord, confirmed by the prefecture this Saturday, an outbreak of avian flu was discovered in the town of Saint-Genies, in the Périgord noir. The cases were identified in a professional goose farm. A batch of several poultry tested positive. According to our information, a slaughter operation began this Saturday: 1,000 animals will be slaughtered in all. We do not yet know the exact cause of the spread of the virus but according to professionals, it could be airborne contamination, because of the strong wind of recent days. The Dordogne had not been affected by avian influenza since the winter of 2015-2016.
A positive batch in a professional goose farm
The prefecture plans to communicate on new measures this Sunday, April 3. According to the Chamber of Agriculture, a protection zone has already been established: within a perimeter of ten kilometers around Saint-Genies, any movement of poultry will be strictly controlled by a health veterinarian. These are the municipalities of Archignac, Carlux, La Cassagnes, La Chapelle-Aubareil, La Dornac, Marcillac-Saint-Quentin, Montignac, Paulin, Prats-de-Carlux, Saint-Crépin-et-Carlucet, Saint-Genies, Sainte-Nathalène, Saint-Vincent-Le-Paluel, Sarlat, Simeyrols, Tamniès and Valojoulx.
An outbreak of bird flu had already been detected in the Lot, in the town of Gignac, less than 30 kilometers from Saint-Geniès. To prevent the spread of the virus, a first protection zone had already been set up by the prefecture of Dordogne this Friday on a delimited perimeter. Seven municipalities have since been affected: Borrèze, Nadaillac, Salignac-Eyvigues, Orliaguet, Peyrillac-et-Millac, Cazoulès and Jayac. Communes neighboring Saint-Genies. In this surveillance zone, the movements and repositioning of poultry are prohibited, except by derogation.
First case of bird flu since winter 2015-2016
The episode of bird flu recorded this winter in France is the most severe ever known, with more than 1,100 outbreaks in breeding and more than ten million poultry slaughtered.