Nations Pare Back Avian Flu Efforts; Tough New Steps in France
GLOBAL - Some countries hit by avian flu outbreaks over the winter are scaling back some of their response measures as the pace of new outbreaks eases, but farmers in France's southwestern foie gras production were ordered to cull their birds and halt production for six weeks in an aggressive new control step.
20 April 2017
2 minute read
By: CIDRAP reports that France's foie gras industry has been hit hard by outbreaks 2 years in a row and has battled the highly pathogenic H5N8 strain reported by several European countries, plus some in the Middle East and Africa. France has also battled four other low-pathogenic strains: H5N2, H5N1, H5N3, and H5N9.
Easing restrictions in some countries
South Korea is stepping down its avian flu alert by one category from the highest level effective tomorrow, Reuters reported today, citing the country's agriculture ministry.
Officials said the country experienced its worst-ever avian flu season, which began in November and led to the culling of 37 million poultry. No new outbreaks have been reported since 4 April.
The outbreaks in South Korea this season were marked by highly pathogenic H5N8 as well its first appearance of highly pathogenic H5N6.
