A duck farm in France. – MEIGNEUX ROMUALD / SIPA
On the face of this epidemic, the situation is improving. In the Gers, where 66 outbreaks of avian flu have been identified since mid-November 2020, no new case of infection with the H5N8 virus has been detected since March 13.
Prefecture considers that the measures to slaughter and limit the movement of animals “have made it possible to stabilize the situation”. And even to foresee the way out of the crisis, since in the country of foie gras, the State services have decided to carefully and very gradually lift the restrictions.
Thus, on Saturday, 41 towns in the west of the department were able to regain “free status” from avian influenza. This means that breeders have the opportunity to resume their activities and return ducks to the sheds and backyards.
3.5 million poultry slaughtered
If no case disrupts the schedule of this deconfinement, other municipalities will experience a lifting of restrictions on May 13.
According to the Ministry of Agriculture and Food, 490 outbreaks of bird flu have been identified since the start of the epidemic, including 475 in farms in the South-West (mainly in the Landes and Gers).
In total, 3.5 million poultry, the vast majority of them ducks, have undergone curative or preventive slaughter. The authorities point out that the H5N8 virus is not transmissible to humans and that the consumption of meat, eggs or fatty liver “does not present any risk”.