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France suspects bird flu at turkey farm

Posted on: Thursday, 23 February 2006, 10:58 CST

PARIS (Reuters) - France has found a suspected outbreak of H5N1 bird flu at a turkey farm in the east of the country, the farm ministry said on Thursday.

If confirmed, it would be the first case of the virus spreading to domestic farm birds in the European Union.

The ministry said a high mortality rate among turkeys was discovered at the farm, which has more than 11,000 birds and is situated in the department of Ain, where two cases of the disease have already been confirmed in wild ducks.

Test results are due on Friday, it added.

The farm has been cordoned off and all birds will be culled. The ministry said a security zone of 2 miles had been set up around the farm as is usual under the European Union emergency measures.

"For the moment it's just a suspicion but we have to kill off the flock this afternoon, even before we have the final results, so that we are in line with international rules," Farms Minister Dominique Bussereau told the Senate.

Germany reported earlier that a second test on a duck on a farm in the northern Baltic Sea island of Ruegen had proved negative for the killer avian influenza.

France has said it planned to vaccinate some 900,000 farm geese and ducks in three departments thought most at risk from the H5N1 virus and where they could not be kept inside. Media reports have estimated the cost of the program at $1.91 million.

Bussereau said he was discussing with Prime Minister Dominique de Villepin whether it would be possible to vaccinate poultry in the departments that make up the Bresse region in eastern France as well.

He said the latest case highlighted the importance of stepping up border surveillance.

He also said he would announce at the beginning of next week a plan to provide information to the public and support for farmers and others in the industry.

French poultry producers have estimated a 30 percent drop in sales since the bird flu crisis started in November at a cost of $155 million, Bussereau said earlier on Thursday.

Source: REUTERS

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