France has been placed at high risk since October 22, 2025.
The worry grows. In a press release dated October 28, the Ministry of Agriculture announced that “France is placed in high risk since October 22 2025” concerning the circulation of the highly pathogenic avian influenza virus (HPAI), better known as “bird flu”. Outbreaks have been recorded in Pas-de-Calais, Loire-Atlantique, Lot-et-Garonne, Vendée, Cher, Haute-Marne, Seine-MaritimeCharente-Maritime. This disease is particularly contagious in animals and the virus can be carried by wind from one agricultural building to another. What is this disease? Can humans catch bird flu? What symptoms should alert you? How to avoid it? Expert lighting.
What is bird flu?
Avian “flu” or rather avian “plague” is a viral disease of animals, caused by the highly pathogenic avian influenza virus. It is a virus from the influenza virus family. We therefore speak of “avian flu” even though, in birds, it is a disease characterized by septicemia associated with encephalitis, and not a predominantly respiratory illness like human flu. “The avian plague virus was discovered in 1959 and the first official case we had In France only arrived in 2006″ reminds us veterinarian Jeanne Brugère-Picoux. Many species of wild birds, especially those that live in wetlands and aquatic environments, harbor influenza viruses. THE ducks, geese, swans, gulls, terns and wading birds constitute the main natural reservoir of avian plague viruses. Chickens can also be affected. The infection can decimate a flock in less than 48 hours.
“If humans can be contaminated by the avian virus, they are not necessarily sick”
The avian plague virus spreads through contact with infected birds or surfaces and objects contaminated by their droppings. “In France, no human cases linked to contamination by an HPAI virus have been observed to date” recalled the Academy of Medicine in 2021. Around the world, cases of HPAI H5N1 viruses have been identified in humans as well as deaths but they remained very rare and were observed in people who have had close contact with infected poultry or with objects contaminated by their droppings. Moreover, “if humans can be contaminated by the avian plague virus, they are not necessarily sick”, underlines veterinarian Jeanne Brugère-Picoux. “Humans are not receptive to this virus at the level of the first cells of the respiratory systemit is necessary to reach the alveoli for there to be a serological reaction with this virus, that is to say at the level of the deep respiratory system. At that time, you will have a serological reaction but not necessarily an illness. If we breathe a little of the virus present in the feathers during plague, we can have a serological reaction. without being sick.” Finally, you should know that not all avian plague viruses are transmitted to humans.
What are the symptoms of bird flu?
→ Symptoms in humans: In the rare cases of avian plague transmitted to humans, the disease is most often mild. Cases are asymptomatic or may report fever, fatigue, body aches, sore throat. In more serious cases, avian plague can be complicated by pneumonia with high mortality.
→ Symptoms in animals: After a generally very short incubation (24 hours to a few days), infected animals present variable clinical signs: respiratory distress, edema of the head and eyelids, diarrhea. Eggs laid after the onset of the disease are frequently devoid of shells.
What risks?
“The avian plague virus is very pathogenic for animals, not for humans” continues our interlocutor. Remember (again) that in France, no human cases linked to contamination by an HPAI virus have been observed to date. “There is no need for concern for humans in relation to the outbreaks of avian plague recorded in France, reassures Jeanne Brugère-Picoux. The problem is mainly protect yourself so as not to contaminate other livestock.” Finally, “there has never been an adaptation of the avian plague virus to the human species with human-to-human transmission. This disease was not classified as a zoonotic disease before the “bird flu” crisis caused by the HPAI virus of the H5N1 type of Asian origin discovered in Asia in 1996. In France “as in Asia, there are not the same risk factors where contamination has been observed (live poultry market susceptible to infection, precarious conditions with significant cohabitation with uncontrolled poultry, persistence of the virus, etc.)” continues the specialist. In France, the protection of poultry is based on drastic biosecurity measures.
To protect yourself and avoid contaminating other birds, you must wash your hands regularly, wear a mask and impervious gloves (when handling animal corpses or waste). If you are traveling to (or living in) an area where bird flu is prevalent:
- avoid high risk locations. Legislation prohibits any transport of birds in this case and imposes strict biosecurity measures on poultry farms: footbaths, autobaths)
- avoid direct contact with birds, particularly chickens, chickens, ducks and wild birds; people with “pet chickens” must confine them to avoid any contact with wild birds under penalty of a fine;
- avoid surfaces contaminated with bird droppings or secretions;
- observe the rules of hand hygiene and food hygiene.
Is it safe to eat chicken and eggs?
“Yes, assures Jeanne Brugère-Picoux. There is no risk for humans to eat poultry or eggs, even a boiled or raw egg because the avian influenza virus is not dangerous for humans. Moreover, in the event of avian plague, the animals die quickly and the birds that may have been contaminated, as well as their products, are not marketed.”
What are the treatments for bird flu? A vaccine?
“We do not treat this disease in humans in France as in Europe,” replies our interlocutor. No vaccine against avian flu is authorized by the European Commission.
Thanks to Professor Jeanne Brugère-Picoux, veterinarian and member of the National Academy of Medicine. Comments collected in 2022.
