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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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Reporting service for dead wild birds updated

News Story 1
 The Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) has updated its online reporting service for dead wild birds.

The new version allows those reporting a dead bird to drop a pin on a map when reporting the location. It also includes a wider range of wild bird species groups to select from when describing the bird.

The online service, which helps APHA to monitor the spread of diseases such as avian influenza, can be accessed here. 

Click here for more...
News Shorts
NI chief vet urges bluetongue vigilance

Northern Ireland's chief veterinary officer (CVO) has urged farmers to be vigilant for signs of bluetongue, after the Animal and Plant Health Agency warned there was a very high probability of further cases in Great Britain.

There have been 126 confirmed cases of bluetongue virus serotype 3 in England since November 2023, with no cases reported in Northern Ireland. The movement of live ruminants from Great Britain to Northern Ireland is currently suspended.

According to the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA), the virus is most likely to enter Northern Ireland through infected animals or germplasm (semen or ova) being imported.

Brian Dooher, Northern Ireland's CVO, said: "Surveillance for this disease within Northern Ireland has been increased to assist with detection at the earliest opportunity which will facilitate more effective control measures."

Farmers should report any suspicions of the disease to their private veterinary practitioner, the DAERA Helpline on 0300 200 7840 or their local DAERA Direct Veterinary Office.