Bird flu outbreak detected in poultry farm in Ille-et-Vilaine

An outbreak of bird flu was detected on Monday, August 12, in a poultry farm in Ille-et-Vilaine, the Ministry of Agriculture announced on Tuesday. This is the “first confirmed outbreak in breeding in France” since January 16, specifies the same source without however giving the exact location of the exploitation. “Regulated areas have been set up around the affected farm”the ministry said in a statement Tuesday evening, stressing that “the IAHP risk [influenza aviaire hautement pathogène] remains ‘negligible’ on the national territory”.

“The main hypothesis is contamination via wildlife”says the press release, which notes that the outbreak has been identified “near an area naturally exposed to contamination via wildlife” and that “several cases have been observed in seabirds along the Breton coast in recent weeks”.

In accordance with health management rules, the outbreak has been depopulated and will be disinfected while a protection zone (3 km around the outbreak) and a surveillance zone (10 km) have been established. In order to control the risk of spreading the virus, poultry movements are prohibited in these areas where strict health measures must be observed, and where surveillance of farms is reinforced.

As a result of this detection, France loses its status “HPAI free”. This status may be recovered 28 days after the end of cleaning and disinfection operations and in the absence of new outbreaks. The risk level for the disease remains for the time being “negligible”as has been the case since May 3, 2024, according to the same source.