In the South-West of France from 5th to 20th of January will hold a mass slaughter of ducks and geese to prevent the threat of the spread of highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N8.

Preventive measures will be taken to the birds on free range, in the departments of Gers, Landes and Hautes pyrénées, according to the Ministry of agriculture.

Since the beginning of December in the farms of France was recorded in 89 lesions of avian flu, outbreaks mainly occurred in the South-West of the country, according to the Agency.

According to Reuters, the region will be destroyed, 1.3 million ducks from the total population, with 18 million birds.