(SRN NEWS/REUTERS) – France has reported outbreaks of bird flu on two farms in the southwest, according to the World Organization for Animal Health (WOAH), just days after the country eased restrictions linked to the disease.
The global spread of highly pathogenic avian influenza has alarmed governments and poultry producers after devastating flocks in recent years, disrupting supplies, driving up food prices and raising the risk of human transmission.
The H5N1 virus was detected in chickens and vaccinated ducks, causing the death of 270 birds out of a total 5,062, the Paris-based WOAH said, citing reports from French authorities. The remaining birds were subsequently culled as a precaution.
Only recently, France had lowered its bird flu risk assessment, citing improvements in the situation among farms and wild birds.
France has been among the countries hardest hit by bird flu and began vaccinating ducks in 2023. While the vaccine reduces the risk of transmission, it does not completely prevent infection.