EGG‑NEWS.com

Following successive years of severe losses as a result of exposure to HPAI, France initiated a preventive vaccination program in ducks and geese reared for the foie gras segment of their poultry industry.  To date 26 million waterfowl have received the initial dose of vaccine with 21 million receiving a second booster dose.

During the 2022-2023 epornitic of HPAI, 315 farm outbreaks were recorded with 22 million commercial birds depopulated.  Since the autumn of 2023, ten cases have been diagnosed.

The success of the vaccination program will be confirmed by an analysis of data relating to outbreaks following a complete season with direct comparisons between vaccinated and non-vaccinated susceptible flocks.