France reports H5 bird flu virus on Turkey farm

France has detected the H5 subtype of bird flu on a turkey farm, raising fears today that the European Union’s top poultry producer could record the first outbreak of the deadly H5N1 flu strain in commercialse in nearby Lyon, said today that France would be “one of the best-prepared countries” in the event of a flu pandemic.

A veterinarian who suspected bird flu at the Versailleux farm raised the alarm yesterday after a high death rate was observed. The farm, where more than 11,000 turkeys were kept, was sealed off and the surviving birds were slaughtered.

The family of the farmer was placed under medical watch.

Stepping up its prevention measures, the ministry said today it would expand an initial six-mile surveillance zone around the turkey farm to 70 towns and ordered all bird raisers in the area to put disinfectant in foot bins at exits and entrances to their sites.

Last week, the government ordered all domestic birds indoors or, in a few regions, vaccinated.

Protection zones were set up around the site where the first duck was found, in the town of Joyeux.

Police were checking vehicles to ensure that no captive birds leave the area.

Also today, regional officials in northeastern Meurthe-et-Moselle said a dead wild duck discovered on Monday had tested positive for H5, though results of tests for H5N1 were pending.

Authorities are also battling fears that a protracted bird flu crisis could devastate the poultry industry.

Sales have plunged 25-30% in France since the first case was reported last week.

France exports poultry around Europe and to Russia, Africa, the Middle East, Japan, Korea, Brazil and the US, according to the French poultry industry federation.

Scientists fear the H5N1 strain, which has spread from Asia to 10 European countries and Africa, could mutate into a form that is easily transmitted between humans, sparking a pandemic.