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H5N8 avian influenza detected in France
An outbreak of H5N8 bird flu has been detected on a duck farm in France.
Outbreak confirmed in the Tarn region of Almayrac

An outbreak of H5N8 bird flu has been detected on a duck farm in France, the French Ministry of Agriculture reports.

The outbreak was confirmed on 1 December 2016 by the ANSES national reference laboratory in the Tarn region of Almayrac.

The farm reported a high mortality of ducks, which resulted in sampling at the beginning of the week. Of the 5,000 ducks on the farm, 2,000 are believed to have died.

The Department of Population Protection of the Tarn immediately put in place a protection zone of 3km and a surveillance zone of 10km around the farm. The ducks of the infected holding will be slaughtered.

The preventative slaughter of animals will also be carried out on farms linked epidemiologically to the detected outbreak. Enhanced surveillance will be established around these farms.

In a statement, the Ministry of Agriculture called for vigilance - particularly by vets, breeders, hunters and owners of poultry farms.

“This requires, in particular, the unfailing application of biosecurity measures and to report any mortality of birds,” they write.

The same virus was detected for the first time in France on November 27 on wild ducks in the Pas-de-Calais. Many cases have also been reported in Europe in recent weeks on migratory birds but also in poultry breeding.

The ministry adds that the role of migratory birds appears predominant in the spread of this virus, which is particularly contagious in birds but is harmless to humans.

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Cold-water dip to raise funds for Vetlife

News Story 1
 The veterinary mental health charity Vetlife is inviting the veterinary community to join it for a sponsored cold-water dip.

The event will take place at Walpole Bay, Margate, on 17 May during Mental Health Awareness Week. Participants of all abilities can join in the challenge and are advised to bring a towel, a hot drink, a snack, and warm clothes to get changed into afterwards.

Those taking part are being asked to try to raise £100 each to support the work of the charity.

Details about how to take part can be found here. 

Click here for more...
News Shorts
Bluetongue low vector period ends

In an update to its bluetongue guidance, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) has announced that the seasonal low vector period for the disease has ended.

With winter over, Defra is planning for a possible increase in cases as midges become more active. It has warned that farms along the east coast of England from Norfolk to Kent, and along the south coast from Kent to Devon, are at highest risk from infected midges blown over from northern Europe.

Since the virus was detected in England in November 2023, there have been 126 confirmed cases. The most recent case to be confirmed was on 1 March 2024.

Farmers are asked to continue to frequently monitor their livestock and ensure their animals and land are registered with the Animal and Plant Health Agency.