FRANCE - The veterinary authorities have sent a report to the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) regarding a first outbreak of low pathogenic avian influenza (LPAI).
The French veterinary authority sent an Immediate Notification to the OIE in a report dated 4 February 2009.
The outbreak was in La Garnache in Vendée (Pays-de-Loire region in central western France). The outbreak started on 29 January, and was resolved on 1 February. The affected farm has only one closed premises with 5,022 breeding ducks in late moult (no lay) and aged 12 months. In total, 90 birds died and the remainder of the flock were destroyed.
The presence of the low pathogenic H5N3 virus sub-type was confirmed.
The last outbreak of avian flu in France was in 2006.
