Avian influenza : biosecurity measures will be strengthened

lnzyx/epictura

Published the 14.07.2017 to at 11h48

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influenza aviairesécuritécanard

The minister of Agriculture wants to break the black series. On 13 July, Stéphane Travert announced the strengthening of biosecurity measures in the poultry and waterfowls. The decree, which shall enter into force on the 1st of September, has the objective of limiting the risk of spread of avian influenza in the country.

This time, the department has decided to anticipate and to act before the migration of wild birds, which occur each fall. It must be said that in October 2016, this season has caused an epidemic of highly pathogenic avian influenza (H5N8) in poultry farms of the South-west. For the second year in a row, farmers have had to empty their aviaries and meet a crawlspace.

Now, breeders will be subject to an obligation of results. This new ordinance requires the development of specifications and guides for biosecurity. These will have to be scrupulously respected.

Shelter farms

The ministry is also calling for the protection of food intended for the captive animals. These tanks can be a mode of contamination ideal if the wild birds to feed on. Limit the contacts is therefore a priority.

The radius of the novelties is also the mandatory testing within the farms breeding stock. In effect, the resident animals are more likely to change their structure.

Always in the purpose of protection, the vehicles that circulate within a farm must be strictly followed. The idea is clear : if a pathogenic virus is introduced in a structure, its spread must be resisted by all means.

This arsenal may yet prove to be very constraining for farmers. But the stakes are real. The two epidemics successive has cost the farmers who had to cull their birds. By itself, the outbreak of 2016 has resulted in the death of 3.7 million ducks. This represents 250 million euros of losses.