Bird Flu in France 2025: Current Outbreaks, EU Plan Impact, and Safety Tips for Expats

France Faces H5N1 Surge in Europe’s Bird Flu Crisis

France reports over 200 highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) outbreaks in poultry since summer 2025, mirroring Europe’s record wave of 1,443 wild bird detections across 26 countries. The French agriculture ministry confirms most involve the aggressive H5N1 sub-lineage, hitting farms in western regions like Pays de la Loire and Brittany hardest, with mass culls to contain spread. Expats in rural areas like Chaze-Henry should note this uptick, though human cases remain absent in France.

Wild birds, especially migrating waterfowl, drive transmission to domestic flocks, prompting France to extend indoor housing orders for poultry until at least mid-December 2025. This aligns with the EU’s new ECDC pre-pandemic framework, which France is adopting for coordinated surveillance.

Current Outbreaks and French Response

France’s bird flu season escalated rapidly:

Poultry impact: 200+ infected sites, mainly free-range farms; over 5 million birds culled since September.
Wild birds: Hundreds of H5N1 positives, peaking in autumn migrations.
Geographic hotspots: Vendée, Loire-Atlantique, and Manche departments lead reports.

Government actions include:

Mandatory biosecurity on farms, with disinfection and movement bans in affected zones.
Enhanced wild bird monitoring via the SAGIR network for rapid carcass testing.
Vaccine trials for poultry, though not yet widespread due to trade rules.

No human infections linked to these outbreaks, keeping public health risk low per Santé Publique France.

READ ALSO: EU Bird Flu Alert: New Pre-Pandemic Plan for H5N1 Preparedness in Europe

How the EU Framework Bolsters France

France integrates the ECDC’s 14-scenario plan, scaling from monitoring to quarantine readiness. This “One Health” strategy links ANSES vets, farms, and hospitals for early detection, including border checks at ports like Nantes. French officials echo ECDC: Widespread animal circulation raises long-term spillover risks, but vaccines and stockpiles prepare for escalation.