A farm in Ille-et-Vilaine has reported a case of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI), marking the first farm outbreak in France since last winter. In response, the affected area has been placed under restrictions. Despite the incident, French authorities consider the overall national risk of HPAI to be minimal.
The French agriculture ministry announced that the outbreak, identified on August 12 at a mixed-species poultry farm, is the first of the 2024-2025 season. This comes after a gap since the last recorded case on January 16.
Investigators are currently exploring the possibility that the virus was transmitted through wild birds, especially given the recent surge in cases among seabirds along the coast of Brittany.
Due to this outbreak, France has temporarily lost its ‘HPAI-free’ designation. The status may be reinstated 28 days after sanitation procedures are completed, assuming no further outbreaks occur.
