Bird flu sneaks into poultry holding in France

French authorities have confirmed an avian influenza virus H5N1 outbreak in an indoor turkey farm, close to the area where the virus was earlier found in wild birds. Switzerland suspects H5N1 in a dead wild duck.

France says avian influenza virus H5N1 has killed hundreds of turkeys in an indoor farm. All holding’s 11,000 turkeys have been slaughtered and a protection zone around the infected farm has been established. This is the first outbreak of H5N1 in commercial poultry in the EU. Worth 6 billion euro a year, France’s poultry industry is the EU’s biggest. 

The French government has announced a 63 million euro aid plan for the poultry farming industry and is set to increase the amount if the situation gets worse. The Commission will analyses the French plans and state whether they are in line with Commission’s state aid rules. Currently, the Commission co-finances the cleaning and disinfection of holdings that need to cull their poultry as part of avian influenza eradication measures. It also co-finances up to 50% of exceptional market-support measures in protection and surveillance zones. 

If the situation in the EU gets worse (the poultry gets widely infected by H5N1) the Commission may ask the Council for a permission to propose additional measures, which, as costly, would need to be approved by the Parliament. This issue is set to be on the agriculture council’s table on 20 March 2006. 

The EU-25’s health ministers have mandated Austria, who currently holds the EU’s rotating presidency, to co-ordinate a Europe-wide information campaign to advise people to avoid contact with sick birds.

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EU gives green light for targeted poultry vaccination

The EU-25's veterinary experts have approved the French and Dutch national plans for preventative vaccination of poultry. The vaccinations will, however, be subject to rigorous surveillance and control requirements.