3 years ago
France’s Ministry of Agriculture confirms that a highly pathogenic H5N8 avian influenza had been detected on a duck farm in the southwest of the country.
It has been stated that H5N8 virus is the country’s first farm outbreak of the virus this year. The H5N8 virus, which has never been detected in humans, has been spreading rapidly in wildlife in Europe through migratory birds.
The ministry said in a statement that - “The ANSES (French Agency for Food, Environmental and Occupational Health & Safety) national reference laboratory confirmed the infection of a farm in 6,000 ducks by the H5N8 virus in Benesse-Maremne (Landes region), in which high mortality was observed on Dec. 5”.
It said all the infected ducks were slaughtered and a security zone was set up around the farm with ban on the movement of poultry in the areas to block the spread of the virus.
In addition, three wild swans and one wild goose found dead last week have also been confirmed as infected with the H5N8 virus, the ministry said.
