Avian influenza in France

Originally from: Farmtalking
                        
Date: 27 Feb 2006
From: ...

Originally from: ProMED-mail <...>
Source: Office International des Epizooties (OIE), Alert Messages, 25 Feb 2006 [edited]
<http://www.oie.int/Messages/060227FRA.htm>

Avian influenza in France

France last reported an outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza to the OIE in 1948.

Translation of information received on (and dated) 25 Feb 2006 from Dr Monique Eloit, deputy director general, General Directorate for Food (DGAL), Ministry of Agriculture, Food, Fisheries and Rural Affairs, Paris:

An outbreak of avian influenza due to highly pathogenic avian influenza virus subtype H5N1 was reported in a commercial turkey farm in Versailleux district, Ain department.

Date of 1st confirmation of the event: 25 Feb 2006.
Date of start of the event: 23 Feb 2006.
Nature of diagnosis: clinical and laboratory.
Number of susceptible animals in the outbreak: 11 700 (56-day old turkeys). Number of cases: 10 500.
Number of deaths: 400.
Number of animals destroyed: 11 300.

Source of outbreak or origin of infection: unknown or inconclusive.

Control measures undertaken:
– control of wildlife reservoirs;
– stamping out (total culling of farm poultry was applied on 23 Feb 2006 afternoon);
– quarantine;
– movement control inside the country;
– screening;
– zoning (protection and surveillance zones were delineated around the farm beginning from the suspicion period, that is on 23 Feb 2006);
– disinfection of infected premises (in progress);
– dipping/spraying.

Vaccination prohibited: yes.

OIE Animal Health Information Department
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Further details will be published in the next issue of weekly Disease Information, available online from Thu 2 Mar 2006 afternoon (GMT).