Wednesday, February 22, 2006
France and The Netherlands start avian influenza vaccinations
Animal health experts, from the European Union, have given France and the Netherlands the OK to start avian influenza vaccinations.
Authorities in the Netherlands say they will vaccinate hobby poultry and free-range chickens, most at risk of contact with wild birds. Vaccination will be voluntary, as an alternative to the requirement that these birds be kept indoors.
France, the European Union’s top poultry producer, will vaccinate geese and ducks in three different departments that are considered high-risk areas for avian influenza.
This is the EU’s first preventive vaccination plan against the lethal H5N1 strain of avian influenza.