France starts mass immunization program against bird flu despite threatening export bans

France has started a nationwide vaccination campaign against bird flu in ducks on October 2 to tackle costly mass culls that have regularly industries since 2020.

According to RFI, the mandatory vaccination campaign foresees immunizing about 60 million ducks over the next year, making it Europe's only mass-vaccination campaign against the virus.

While the majority of farmers are supportive of the €96 million campaign, hoping to avoid future flu outbreaks and subsequent mass slaughterings, some fear that there will be clients rejecting the consumption of vaccinated animals.

As vaccinated birds do not always present signs of prior infections, Japan and the USA have announced they would suspend the import of French poultry due to the immunization program.