France to Launch Second Bird Flu Vaccination Campaign Amid Rising Concerns
Source: DairyNews.today
France is set to initiate its second major vaccination campaign against avian influenza this October, following the success of its inaugural effort last year. The decision comes in response to the recent detection of bird flu on a poultry farm in France, the first such case since January, as the country braces for the seasonal peak of the disease in the autumn and winter months.
Avian influenza, commonly known as bird flu, poses a significant threat to poultry, having devastated flocks worldwide in recent years. The virus has also shown the ability to transmit beyond birds, with instances reported among dairy cows and farm workers in the United States, heightening the urgency of containment efforts.
Agriculture Minister Marc Fesneau emphasized the effectiveness of the previous vaccination campaign, stating, "We are going to relaunch a major vaccination campaign because this has proved its effectiveness," during an interview with France Info radio.
To combat the disease, French authorities have ordered nearly 68 million vaccine doses fr om French pharmaceutical company Ceva Sante Animale and Germany's Boehringer Ingelheim. This follows last year’s campaign, which successfully vaccinated around 50 million ducks. The upcoming vaccination effort is expected to mirror the previous program's cost, with an investment of approximately 100 million euros. The French government will finance 70% of this cost, slightly less than the 85% contribution made last year, as part of a strategy to gradually shift the financial burden towards the poultry sector.
In addition to bird flu, France is also ramping up efforts to combat other livestock diseases, including bluetongue and epizootic hemorrhagic disease (EHD). The government has initiated a vaccination campaign against bluetongue, providing millions of doses free of charge to sheep and cattle farms. This move comes in response to the spread of a new variant of the disease from northern Europe, with 41 outbreaks detected in northeast France as of August 14.
For EHD, which has been a source of significant concern and protest among French farmers, a vaccine will soon be made available. The disease continues to spread among cattle in southwest France, wh ere thousands of cases have already been reported.
Agriculture Minister Marc Fesneau emphasized the effectiveness of the previous vaccination campaign, stating, "We are going to relaunch a major vaccination campaign because this has proved its effectiveness," during an interview with France Info radio.
To combat the disease, French authorities have ordered nearly 68 million vaccine doses fr om French pharmaceutical company Ceva Sante Animale and Germany's Boehringer Ingelheim. This follows last year’s campaign, which successfully vaccinated around 50 million ducks. The upcoming vaccination effort is expected to mirror the previous program's cost, with an investment of approximately 100 million euros. The French government will finance 70% of this cost, slightly less than the 85% contribution made last year, as part of a strategy to gradually shift the financial burden towards the poultry sector.
In addition to bird flu, France is also ramping up efforts to combat other livestock diseases, including bluetongue and epizootic hemorrhagic disease (EHD). The government has initiated a vaccination campaign against bluetongue, providing millions of doses free of charge to sheep and cattle farms. This move comes in response to the spread of a new variant of the disease from northern Europe, with 41 outbreaks detected in northeast France as of August 14.
For EHD, which has been a source of significant concern and protest among French farmers, a vaccine will soon be made available. The disease continues to spread among cattle in southwest France, wh ere thousands of cases have already been reported.
