French authorities slaughter foie gras ducks to stop dangerous bird flu

French authorities have started slaughtering ducks in the main foie gras-producing region to try to contain a dangerous form of bird flu.

Operations to destroy birds got under way today in three departments of south-western France where an outbreak of the H5N8 virus has not stabilised.

The virus does not transmit via food and is harmless to humans.

The cull is expected to last until January 20 and could potentially affect as many as one million ducks.

Since December last year, 89 outbreaks of bird flu have been reported in France, most of them in the south-west.