24,000 ducks will be slaughtered at a Dordogne farm after an outbreak of infectious disease was detected

The bird flu outbreak is the first detected this year on a farm in the department. Other cases have been reported in wildlife.

In the Dordogne, 24,000 ducks will be slaughtered on a farm in the town of Vergt, where an outbreak of bird flu was detected, ICI Périgord learned on Friday, November 14 from the department’s prefecture. The slaughter will take place on Friday afternoon, the breeder confirmed to ICI Périgord, who will be compensated. The bird flu outbreak is the first detected this year on a farm in the department. Other cases have been reported in wildlife.

“I’m still enthusiastic, though This is a disaster,” confides in Patrick Aublant, breeder in radio microphone, already affected by the virus in 2022. “This is disappointing,” he admitted, especially since the ducks had received two doses of the vaccine.

Faced with this situation, the Dordogne prefecture has decided to establish a “protection zone” in three municipalities: Vergt, Saint-Mayme-de-Péreyrol and Saint-Amand-de-Vergt. This means that, within these limits, the movement of all poultry and birds is prohibited. It is also prohibited to bring in or take out hatching eggs. Poultry must be protected without exception and the collection of birds is prohibited. Finally, biosecurity measures, such as farm cleaning and daily clinical monitoring, must be strengthened.

The prefecture has also established “surveillance zones” in 19 other cities where bird movement is restricted, unless there are exceptions. Oversight is enhanced with mandatory self-checks and safeguards. Among the associated towns, there are Chalagnac, Douville, Fouleix, Saint-Martin-des-Combes, Veyrines-de-Vergt or even Salon and Saint-Michel-de-Villadeix.