Since November 2021, the Department of Agriculture in France recorded 1,230 outbreaks of avian influenza through the first week in April.  During the past month, incident cases have soared requiring disposal of infected flocks and in some areas proactive depletion with compensation.

As in previous years, outbreaks are especially severe in regions with a high concentration of foie gras production.  To date, 13 million birds have been depleted, the majority of which are on small family-operated farms holding ducks and geese on pasture.  Only during the terminal two to three weeks of the production period are domestic waterfowl confined to cages in barns. During the finishing period force-feeding is carried out before slaughter to harvest livers.  Exposure of non-confined flocks to avian influenza virus carried by migratory waterfowl is inevitable. Infection of flocks results in rapid spread in an area as farms are in close proximity with inadequate biosecurity.

France is considering the introduction of a vaccination program although there are no details as to whether inactivated vaccines against the prevalent H5N1 strain will be applied, if the DIVA principle will be followed, and how a vaccination program will be structured with respect to type of vaccine (DNA, inactivated, vector) or administration and monitoring. Implementation of a vaccination program is unlikely in 2022.

The foie gras industry is dependent on exports that are obviously threatened by outbreaks of HPAI.  Even with regionalization, exports are severely curtailed since contiguous areas have extensive infection.

Regions affected by HPAI in France