France has officially raised its bird flu alert level from moderate to high, following the detection of multiple outbreaks in poultry farms and backyard flocks across several northern regions, according to a statement published by the French Ministry of Agriculture in the government’s official journal.

The ministry said the decision was based on evidence of infection among migratory wild birds across Europe, including in France, prompting authorities to order all poultry farms to keep their birds indoors as a precautionary measure.

The new decree will take effect on Wednesday, after officials confirmed two outbreaks in commercial farms and three in household flocks, with the first case detected in mid-October at a pheasant and partridge breeding facility in northern France.

This early alert comes sooner than in previous years, as France activated its high-risk level in October this year, compared to November last year and December in 2023, reflecting growing concern about the virus’s rapid spread during bird migration season.

The highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) virus has caused mass culling of millions of birds across Europe, Asia, and the Americas in recent years, disrupting poultry production and driving up prices of eggs and poultry meat globally.

While the risk of human infection remains low, experts warn that strict monitoring and biosecurity measures are essential to prevent further spread or potential viral mutations.

French authorities confirmed that the heightened alert includes expanded surveillance of farms, rural markets, and migratory bird populations, as part of ongoing European cooperation to track and contain the virus throughout the winter.