France Elevates Bird Flu Alert to 'High' Amidst European Resurgence

France Raises Avian Influenza Alert

France has elevated its national bird flu alert level from 'moderate' to 'high', effective October 22, 2025. This decision by the French agriculture ministry comes in response to confirmed outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) among migratory wild birds in Europe, including France, and several poultry farms. The heightened alert necessitates stricter biosecurity protocols across the country, notably requiring all poultry farms to keep their birds indoors.

Recent Outbreaks and Prevention Measures

As of October 22, 2025, French authorities have identified two bird flu outbreaks on commercial poultry farms and three in backyard flocks. An initial case was reported in mid-October at a pheasant and partridge breeding farm in northern France. The 'high' alert status aims to reinforce surveillance and prevention measures against the virus. The directive to house poultry indoors is a critical step to limit contact between domestic birds and wild migratory birds, which are primary carriers of the disease.

ESA's Role in Surveillance and Monitoring

France's animal health surveillance body, the Epidemiological Surveillance Platform for Animal Health (ESA), plays a crucial role in monitoring the ongoing situation. Coordinated by the French Agency for Food, Environmental and Occupational Health & Safety (ANSES) and the Ministry of Agriculture's Directorate General for Food (DGAL), ESA provides precise and reliable information on the epidemiological status of animal diseases. The ESA's Avian Influenza group has recently revised its event-based surveillance system for poultry farms to enhance early detection capabilities. According to ESA, the rapid spread of bird flu in Europe has resulted in 56 outbreaks across 10 EU countries and Britain between August and mid-October, marking an early and widespread resurgence of the disease.

Broader Context and Human Health Risk

Highly pathogenic avian influenza is a seasonal disease that spreads predominantly through migratory birds, leading to the culling of millions of poultry globally in recent years. While the virus continues to circulate in wild fauna, particularly the A(H5N1) strain, the risk to human health in the EU/EEA remains very low. Human-to-human transmission is considered extremely uncommon, with infections primarily occurring through direct contact with infected poultry. Authorities, however, maintain vigilance for any potential mutations or jumps of the virus to humans. France has previously implemented measures such as duck vaccination, initiated in autumn 2023, which proved effective in controlling the epidemic in farms, though wild bird populations continue to be affected.