20 Aug 2024
France to start second bird flu vaccination campaign in October
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PARIS, Aug 20 (Reuters) – France will launch a second vaccination campaign against avian influenza among farm ducks in October after a successful inaugural programme last year, Agriculture Minister Marc Fesneau said on Tuesday.
The disease, commonly called bird flu, was detected on a poultry farm in France last week for the first time since January, ahead of the expected seasonal peak during autumn and winter.
Bird flu can be deadly for poultry and has ravaged farm flocks worldwide in recent years.
There has also been evidence of transmission beyond birds, including among dairy cows and farm workers in the United States.
See also: Role of bird flu vaccination explored
“We are going to relaunch a major vaccination campaign because this has proved its effectiveness,” Fesneau told France Info radio.
The authorities have ordered nearly 68 million vaccine shots from French firm Ceva Sante Animale and Germany’s Boehringer Ingelheim for the upcoming campaign, after vaccinating around 50 million ducks in the past year, the agriculture ministry added in a statement.
The cost of the second vaccination programme will be similar to the approximately 100 million euros invested last year and would be 70% financed by the government, Fesneau said.