France slaughters 10 million birds for avian influenza

France slaughtered 10 million poultry since November to try to contain avian influenza, a higher balance than in previous years due to an unprecedented outbreak in western France, the Ministry of Agriculture reported on Wednesday.

Since the first case recorded in the north in late November, the virus has spread to about 1,000 farms. Almost half of the animals have been slaughtered in the Pays de la Loire region (west), the second largest poultry production territory after Brittany.

Normally, crises linked to avian influenza are centered in the southwest, mainly on duck farms for the production of foie gras. In 2021, nearly 500 outbreaks were recorded and 3.5 million animals, mostly ducks, were killed.

In total, 34 European countries have been affected by the virus this year. In addition to French farms, avian influenza hit especially those in northern Italy, with 18 million animals killed.

myl/tjc/mis