The number of bird flu outbreaks continues to rise in several European countries. France has now had 260 outbreaks since August 1. The French minister of agriculture Marc Fresneau therefore wants to start vaccinating against bird flu this autumn.
The vast majority of bird flu outbreaks in France occurred in the area where French meat ducks are kept. Hardest hit is the Vendee region with 115 outbreaks. Bird flu is also prevalent in the regions of Maine et Loire (41 outbreaks) and Deux-Sevres (34). These regions are located around and under Nantes and near the Loire River. In total, France had more than 1,550 outbreaks in 2022.
Because the number of outbreaks rose sharply in November, the measures were tightened at the beginning of December. Ducks and turkeys in a zone of 10 to 20 kilometers around outbreaks are culled preventively and no new ducks or turkeys may be set up in a zone of 50 kilometers around the outbreaks.
Due to the high number of outbreaks, the previous French minister of agriculture has already championed vaccination and the new minister is taking over. If the outcome of the current trial vaccinations is good, Fresneau aims to start vaccination this fall. It is clear that vaccination should then be allowed and that good agreements will be made with trading partners within and outside Europe.
Many outbreaks Germany and Poland
In December, Germany had 69 outbreaks of bird flu according to figures from the Friedrich Loeffler Institute, and three outbreaks in January. The outbreaks are mainly in ducks and hens, but also in turkeys and geese, ducks and turkeys as laying hens. It is not known how many animals are involved.
Poland is also struggling with bird flu. The World Organization for Animal Health has received 12 reports since December 15. A total of almost 450,000 chickens were culled on these farms with between 2,400 and 62,000 hens. Sometimes there was already a high failure rate before the company was cleared.
In Italy, four companies were infected in December. Two farms with turkeys, a poultry farm and a farm with guinea fowl. In November, 19 more companies were infected in Italy.
Hungary has had three outbreaks in recent weeks, with a total of 26,000 animals culled. Denmark has reported two outbreaks in recent weeks with a total of 86,000 animals. In Spain, a farm with 1,500 animals was affected.
In the Netherlands, the last outbreak on a poultry farm dates back to November 21. In December there was an outbreak at a hobby holder in Mijdrecht.