Update: More countries impose bans as bird flu cases in France rise

The French Agriculture Ministry reports that pathogenic avian influenza (bird flu) outbreaks have now affected sixty four people in total across six south-western regions of France. The majority of cases occurred in the Landes region, with other outbreaks discovered in duck, geese and chicken farm operations in Cagnotte, Cazalis, Hauriet, Mugron and Montsoue. As we previously noted, the outbreaks were first discovered in the Dordogne region in November last year, hitting the heart of Foie Gras country. Several countries, including South Korea, Japan, Lithuania, Egypt, Iraq and Hong Kong have banned French poultry so far following the outbreak, with more expected to follow, leading experts to suggest that France faces an "unprecedented" bird flu crisis. Over the weekend, Saudi Arabia imposed a ban on eggs and chicks from two regions in France.

French Bird Flu Outbreak Total Hits 64 FRANCE - The latest reports from the French Agriculture Ministry put the total number of highly pathogenic avian influenza outbreaks at 64, affecting six southwestern regions.

Most of the outbreaks reported in an update on 31 December occurred in the Landes region.

One of these was discovered in a duck feeding operation in Cagnotte following clinical signs of disease, whilst another seven were found as a result of checks on ducks sent to slaughter in the Doazit restricted area. Three of these were found in in the town of Eyres Moncube, two of which are associated with an H5N9 strain of highly pathogenic avian influenza, and another four in Cazalis, Hauriet, Mugron and Montsoue.

In Dordogne, the region in which the outbreaks were first discovered, an outbreak of highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza was found on 30 December 2015 on a farm of 30 chickens, 150 pigeons and four peacocks in the town of Celles.

In Gers, an outbreak was confirmed just before Christmas in Montaut on a farm holding 415 geese.

In Hautes-Pyrénées, an outbreak was identified in Bazillac on a farm of 3,000 ducks and 2,600 geese.

For most of these outbreaks, the viral strain is being determined.