Highly Pathogenic Avian Flu Confirmed in Seine-Maritime Backyard Flock

Overview

• The Préfecture de Seine-Maritime confirmed late Monday that a highly pathogenic avian influenza outbreak was detected in a backyard poultry holding at Saint-Sauveur-d'Emmalleville, between Le Havre and Fécamp.
• A prefectural order set regulated protection and surveillance perimeters of 3 kilometres and 10 kilometres around the contaminated site to limit virus spread to nearby holdings.
• State veterinary services will carry out a depopulation operation to cull all birds at the affected holding as an immediate containment measure.
• France raised its national avian influenza risk level from 'negligible' to 'moderate' earlier this week because infection patterns were observed in migratory wild birds in neighbouring countries, prompting stronger surveillance and biosecurity steps.
• Backyard owners face direct losses from culling and stricter movement and reporting rules, while the move increases inspections and biosecurity checks to reduce the risk to commercial flocks and limit further outbreaks.