France decides massive duck slaughtering to curb bird flu spread: ministry

The French Agriculture Ministry on Wednesday decided a massive duck cull in administrative departments southwest France in a move to curb virus strain H5N1 spread.

"The cull of palmipeds in outdoors yards zone ... comprising parts of Gers, Landes and Hautes-Pyrenees will be carried out," the ministry said.

"The principle is to quickly kill the species most affected to date by the virus," it added in a statement.

The contaminated ducks will be killed between Jan 5, 20 in in southwest region, home of famous foie gras.

Since December 2016, France reported 89 cases of highly pathogenic bird flu, according to the ministry.

Following a severe strain of H5N8 bird flu hitting several European countries this year, France has already imposed precautionary measures to prevent poultry contacts with wild birds and to restrict hunt in high risk areas.

France, one of the European Union's (EU) leading poultry breeder and main producer of foie gras, detected bird flu outbreak last year, forcing a ban of all duck and goose production in many southwestern departments. Endit