Avian flu, the return. The seventh episode of the dark series which has been shaking up the French poultry industry since 2015 began on November 27. That day, a first outbreak of contamination with the highly pathogenic H5N1 virus was confirmed in a farm of 3,850 turkeys located in Grand-Champ, a commune in Morbihan. Since then, three other cases have been detected, two in the same department and one in the Somme. What these four outbreaks of avian influenza have in common: they all concern turkey farms. That of Hauts-de-France housed 26,400 animals.
Following this reappearance of the virus, the Ministry of Agriculture first raised, on November 28, from negligible to moderate, the level of risk of avian flu throughout the territory, then raised it at the high risk level, i.e. the maximum threshold, on December 5. Enough to increase pressure among breeders forced to lock their poultry in buildings. “ Duck breeders are now accustomed to confinement, but it is against their ethics. In addition, this results in additional work, as the buildings have to be mulched every day. », Estimates Marie-Pierre Pé, director of the Interprofessional Committee for Foie Gras Palmipeds (Cifog). The poultry regained their full freedom in mid-July when the risk level was reduced to negligible. However, the regulations provide that in a duck farm not exceeding 1,500 heads the animals can go out on a reduced route protected by a net.
The Peasant Confederation immediately reacted to denounce “ the ban on the practice of outdoor breeding “, following ” of an incomprehensible decision which results from the recent appearance of avian flu in turkey farms… which were already confined. The choice to lock up poultry throughout mainland France also raises questions, while only two departments have cases of avian flu on farms. »
Unvaccinated poultry
This time, unlike previous episodes, part of the livestock is vaccinated. A large-scale vaccination campaign was, in fact, launched at the beginning of October. But it only concerns fat and meat ducks and is still in progress. “ Today, 80% of fatted ducks have received their two doses of vaccine. The 100% rate should be reached in January », specifies Mme Pé. In total, nearly 9.6 million waterflies have been vaccinated. The fact remains that this approach is a first on this scale, and no one has yet any perspective on its effectiveness. “ We think we are better armed, but the key is to know if the vaccination barrier will be sufficient », underlines Mme Pé.
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