Khaberni - The French authorities have raised the health alert level to high following the discovery of several dead birds in the Gironde region, located in southwestern France, due to suspicions of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI).
This measure comes after multiple reports of dead birds found in the area, which has raised widespread concern about the potential spread of the virus among migratory birds during the autumn migration season.
Details of the incident
According to the French newspaper "Sud Ouest", the first cases were reported on Saturday, when a woman, while walking between the areas of Chateau Grand Mien and Angoulus in Saint Emilion, found a dead crane bird, and immediately informed her family and the local authorities. Her daughter Gwenaelle explained that her mother passes through that area daily and had not noticed the bird the previous day, making the matter suspicious, especially since the crane is one of the protected species in France.
The Gironde prefecture confirmed in an official statement that the risk of contracting high pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) is currently high in the region, pointing out that the virus spreads particularly among migratory birds at this time of the year. The statement emphasized that "it is strictly forbidden to touch or collect the dead birds, and the municipality or relevant governmental bodies must be informed immediately upon finding any similar cases."
Experts warn that the avian influenza virus can quickly transfer between wild birds and poultry, threatening to cause significant losses in the bird breeding sector if strict precautionary measures are not taken. The French Ministry of Agriculture and Environment is monitoring the situation on the ground through specialized teams collecting samples from dead birds for lab analysis to accurately identify the source of the infection.
The French authorities have urged residents to be cautious and not to touch or transport dead birds, and have also requested that they avoid approaching any sick or dead birds, in order to prevent the possibility of transmission of the infection. They confirmed that rapid reporting of such cases helps control the spread of the virus and reduce its risks to public health and the environment.
In light of these developments, the relevant bodies in France continue to monitor the migration routes of migratory birds meticulously, amid a preventive alert aiming to prevent the cases discovered in Gironde from turning into a new epidemic focus during the coming months of autumn (October-November).
