a fox dies of avian flu, a first in France
- ©IllustrationPixabay
By Laura Bourven
Posted on 22 Mar 23 at 6:30
France
Seine-et-Marne: a fox dies of avian flu, a first in France
A fox has contracted the bird flu virus in Seine-et-Marne. It is the 3rd mammal affected by the disease in France. Should we fear transmission to humans?
For nearly two years, the World Health Organization (WHO) has been particularly vigilant about the spread of virus A (H5N1), the highly pathogenic avian influenza epizootic, more commonly known as avian flu. Cases are increasing in domestic poultry and wild birds. But the disease has spread to other animals recently.
A fox with bird flu in Seine-et-Marne
On February 10, three foxes were found dead in the Grand Voyeux reserve, in Congis-sur-Thérouanne, in Seine-et-Marne, by one of the green space agents of the AVEN du Grand Voyeux. According to the World Organization for Animal Health, these animals were near gulls, which also died.
One of the foxes, collected and analyzed by the French Office for Biodiversity, was carrying the highly pathogenic H5N1 virus, confirms the prefecture of Seine-et-Marne.
Congis-sur-Thérouanne is in a large restricted area, as cases of birds infected with avian influenza have been regularly confirmed there since January.
Prefecture of Seine-et-Marne
According to ANSES (National Agency for Food, Environmental and Occupational Health Safety), it is very likely that the infection of the fox was due to the scavenging of wild birds infected with this virus.
Cases on extremely rare mammals in France
It is the third mammal to have contracted the virus in France. A captive collared bear was infected at the end of November 2022 and a domestic cat was also a carrier of avian flu in December 2022, in Deux-Sèvres.
ANSES was actively involved in the investigation of this case, which made it possible to identify the neighboring duck farm as being the source of the cat's contamination.
Public health France
All of these cases are linked to scavenging or indirect transmission of the virus through the locally contaminated environment, according to ANSES.
Should we fear transmission to humans?
With this epizootic, fear is growing about a possible transmission of the bird flu virus to humans. The WHO wishes to reassure: “the risk of transmission to humans of the avian influenza viruses with zoonotic potential that are currently circulating is low”. Today in France, no human case has been documented.
Recently, two human cases of A(H5N1) virus infection were detected in Cambodia. "According to the WHO, the viral strain in question does not belong to clade 2.3.4.4b, but to another clade (2.3.2.1c), endemic to Cambodia for several years," says Public Health France.
After this case on a fox in Seine-et-Marne, the prefecture still wants to warn passers-by. “Walkers and breeders are recommended not to handle birds found dead and to report this to the French Office for Biodiversity (OFB) or to the Departmental Federation of Hunters (FDC) or to the DDPP (Direction Department of Population Protection). »
E9: 6 yo 
