The Ministry of Agriculture and Food of the Republic of France has issued a series of directives relating to the use of avian influenza (AI) vaccine and relevant control measures.  Apart from administration of approved vaccines to commercial waterfowl, the Ministry has specified action in the event of outbreaks that are anticipated in the fall in regions of high density of waterfowl raised by the foie gras industry.  Vaccination will continue in the event of an outbreak in a restricted area as a preventive measure.  Obviously, vaccination will be suspended for any flock demonstrating clinical signs consistent with AI.

Vaccinated flocks will be subjected to surveillance based on tracheal swabs at two-week intervals.

The Ministry policy of vaccination is intended to “diminish the population vulnerable to HPAI virus in circulation and to reduce the need for depopulation that will only be applied to non-vaccinated flocks or those that have yet to be immunized.

In recent years, the Ministry of Agriculture has dispersed vast amounts of public funds for indemnity and control of successive outbreaks of HPAI caused by strain H5N1 in commercial waterfowl. The introduction of vaccination during the fall of 2023 is an adjunct to biosecurity that is ineffective with non-confined flocks.

Progress in prevention of HPAI in the vulnerable foei gras industry will serve as a model for other nations contemplating introduction of vaccination.  It is noted that a number of nations with endemic or seasonally and regionally endemic HPAI have successfully applied vaccination as a control measure. A series of fact sheets issued by the Ministry define policy on movement of live birds and products and are worthy of review by APHIS.