Mass Vaccination of Ducks in France to Combat Bird Flu

France is embarking on a $100 million effort to vaccinate 64 million ducks in order to protect the country's beloved foie gras from Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI). Ducks are particularly vulnerable to the disease, which has led to a significant decrease in foie gras production. The vaccination process involves administering two doses to chicks shortly after hatching. The French government will cover 85% of the vaccination costs, which is a fraction of what it has paid to farmers for bird culling in recent years. This vaccination effort is the first of its kind in the EU and has prompted the US to curtail imports of ducks and poultry from Europe.