USA: France vaccinates ducks against bird flu

The United States does not allow imports of poultry from countries affected by highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) or from flocks vaccinated against the disease, known as avian influenza, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) said. Vaccinated birds may not show signs of infection, meaning it is impossible to determine if the virus is present in a flock, according to the USDA. “France's decision to vaccinate poses a risk of introducing HPAI into the United States,” the USDA said. – “Vaccinating poultry against HPAI virus may mask HPAI virus circulating in poultry.” The French Embassy in Washington could not be reached for comment. France has been among the countries hardest hit by the unprecedented global spread of bird flu, which has killed hundreds of millions of birds over the past two years, disrupting supplies of poultry meat and eggs and prompting import bans. The United States is home to the largest outbreak, killing nearly 59 million chickens, turkeys and other ...