France raises bird flu risk level to moderate, Digi Mart USA News: France is raising its level of vigilance against avian influenza because of an infection dynamic among migratory birds in neighboring countries. The risk level on mainland French territory increases from “negligible” to “moderate” starting Thursday, according to an order published Wednesday in the Official Journal.
The increase moves France to the second of its three levels: negligible, moderate and high. The order cites the “detection of an infection dynamic in migratory wild birds in neighboring countries” as the reason.
The measure is intended “to strengthen surveillance and prevention measures,” the order states.
The risk level had been “negligible” since June 3. It was first lowered from “high” to “moderate” on April 26, at the end of the 2025-2026 winter epizootic, which allowed the systematic confinement requirement for poultry to be lifted.
In early September, a “highly pathogenic” avian influenza outbreak was detected on a duck farm in Maine-et-Loire, leading to the culling of nearly 7,600 animals. Since autumn 2023, vaccination has been mandatory in France for farms with more than 250 ducks, a strategy that experts say has helped prevent major epizootics in the past two years.
