France is now the first farm in 2020 H5N8 avian influenza outbreak 6000 ducks infected

BEIJING, Dec. 9 (Xinhua) -- The French Ministry of Agriculture and Food said on Wednesday that the H5N8 avian influenza virus was detected in a duck farm in the southwestern part of the country.
is the first outbreak of bird flu in France in 2020.
A statement from France's Ministry of Agriculture and Food reportedly said laboratories at France's National Food, Environment and Labour Health Agency (ANSES) had confirmed that 6,000 ducks had been infected with the H5N8 avian influenza virus on a farm in Benes Marene and that a large number of ducks had been found dead.
7 December, French authorities set up safe areas around farms, stepped up surveillance, banned poultry transfers and taken additional hygiene measures.
all the ducks on the farm have been culled.
france has recently detected the H5N8 avian influenza virus in poultry sold in three pet shops, the Ministry of Agriculture and Food said.
last week, three wild swans and a wild goose were also confirmed to be carrying the H5N8 avian influenza virus.
H5N8 avian influenza virus is a highly contagious virus transmitted between birds.
human infection with the H5N8 avian influenza virus has not been detected since it was first detected globally in 2014.
recent spread across Europe, prompting France to raise its bird flu safety alert level to a high level in early November.
outbreaks of avian influenza have occurred in several farms in Germany.
at least 10,000 turkeys have been culled after an outbreak of bird flu was detected at a turkey farm in northern England, the British government said in late November.
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