Seven bird flu cases in southwest

A FOURTH case of avian flu has been detected at a poultry farm in the Dordogne, with a further three cases reported in the Landes, authorities have announced.

The latest Dordogne case, in Cénac-et-Saint-Julien in the Périgord Noir, has seen 4,500 chickens and 1,000 ducks sent to the slaughterhouse. Previous outbreaks in the Dordogne were in Biras, Saint-Paul-La-Roche and Domme.

Avian flu was also detected at three farms in the Landes, in the villages of Doazit and Horsarrieu.

The agriculture ministry said: "This is among the least dangerous strains of influenza in Europe. It cannot be transmitted to humans."

Dominique Graciet, president of the Landes chamber of agriculture, said wild birds were the main carriers of the virus, meaning free-range poultry are at the highest risk of infection.

A temporary ban has been imposed on live poultry leaving the Landes department, as a precautionary measure.