an outbreak of bird flu declared, 10,600 ducks slaughtered

A completely decimated breeding. 10,600 ducks were slaughtered after an outbreak of avian flu was declared in a farm in Ain, the department prefecture announced to AFP on Sunday August 28. “State services (departmental directorate for the protection of populations) of Ain have revealed an outbreak of avian influenza due to a strain of the H5N1 virus in a duck farm located in Saint Nizier-le-Désert “the prefectural administration said in a statement.

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“All the ducks on the farm were slaughtered, i.e. 10,600 ducks”, she continued. The suspicion of infection follows the observation of abnormal mortality among the ducks on the farm and an epidemiological investigation is underway to find out the origin of the contamination. In accordance with health management rules, the outbreak was “depopulated” and “disinfected”. A protection zone (3 km around the outbreak) and a surveillance and control zone (10 km around the outbreak) have been taken in accordance with the regulations, the prefecture stressed.

“In order to control the risk of spreading the virus, poultry movements are prohibited in these areas where strict sanitary measures must be observed” in the municipalities concerned. The prefecture of Ain assured that the services of the State are mobilized alongside the breeder who will be compensated for the losses suffered. State services “call on all professional sectors, hunters and private owners of farmyards to strictly respect the protective measures against avian influenza and to declare without delay any suspicion, including abnormal mortality in breeding”concluded the prefecture. To fight against this particularly severe episode of avian flu, which began last November, the Ministry of Agriculture announced at the end of July that nearly 460 million euros in aid would be deployed to compensate those affected.