France to cull 600,000 poultry to limit bird flu spread

The French Government is reportedly set to cull approximately 600,000 poultry birds as part of its efforts to contain the spread of avian influenza virus that is spreading among duck flocks.

Reuters reported that an avian influenza virus is spreading among the ducks in south-western France.

Last year, the country witnessed highly contagious strains of bird flu, which led to mass culling to limit the transmission from wild birds to farm flocks.

According to France Farm Ministry, the country has culled nearly 200,000 poultry birds and is planning to slaughter additional 400,000 birds to minimise the virus spread.

Since 1 January, France confirmed 61 outbreaks of the H5N8 virus, 48 of which were noticed in the southwestern Landes region, according to the farm ministry’s earlier updates on the website.

Landes is said to be part of a duck breeding zone, which supplies to the foie gras industry.

In another development, Germany has also ordered to cull nearly 62,000 turkeys and ducks after bird flu was found on more poultry farms in the country.

Reuters reported that type H5N8 bird flu was identified in two farms in Cloppenburg, Lower Saxony.

Cloppenburg is considered one of Germany’s leading poultry production areas.

India has also started a large-scale culling of poultry to contain the outbreak of bird flu across its various states.

The outbreak of avian influenza has already killed scores of migratory birds, ducks, crows, and chickens in India.

Last November, nearly 190,000 chickens were culled in the Netherlands after an outbreak of bird flu at two poultry farms in the country.

According to the statement released by the Dutch agriculture ministry, a highly contagious strain of H5 variant was suspected at two poultry farms.

Nearly 100,000 hens were slaughtered by health workers at a poultry farm at Hekendorp outside Gouda, and approximately 90,000 chicks were culled at a poultry farm in Witmarsum, northern Friesland.