The prefecture of Sarthe announces in a press release this Saturday, September 24 the detection of a case of avian flu in a duck farm in Mézeray, between Le Mans and La Flèche. The animals were slaughtered and a surveillance zone was set up within a perimeter of 10 km. If this animal disease is “very contagious” for birds, “the consumption of meat, foie gras or eggs does not present any risk for humans.”
The prefecture has issued an order to define a regulated perimeter of 3 and 10 km around the farm concerned. Birds held by private individuals or professionals must in particular be kept in closed buildings or under protective nets. A census of the backyards of individuals will be carried out, veterinarians will also make regular visits.
The municipalities concerned
These measures apply for the municipalities in the protection zone, Mézeray, Courcelles-la-forêt and Malicorne-sur-Sarthe, as well as for those in the surveillance zone. The prefecture has listed the municipalities concerned:
- Artheze
- Avoise
- The Bailleul
- bump
- Cerans-Foulletourte
- Clermont-Creans
- Crosmieres
- Hard
- Ferce-sur-Sarthe
- The arrow
- Saint-Martin fountain
- ligron
- Noyen-sur-Sarthe
- Parce-sur-Sarthe
- pirmil
- Saint-Jean-de-la-Motte
- Cup
- Villaines-sous-Malicorne
If the Sarthe has been concerned several times by precautionary measures for a year, only two cases of avian flu were confirmed in the spring in Cherré-Au and Saint-Calais.