How is the threat of bird flu changing the charm of SW...

We are due to visit SW France (Perigord) later this year on a very expensive dream trip we%26#39;ve been planning for a long time. Having visited the area several years before, we know how much the local economy depends on poultry and derivatives and we are very worried about the effect on the overall charm of the place. For example when BSE hit large parts of the UK I recall not being able to visit some historic sites etc and this would really affect our pleasure in our holiday. Don%26#39;t want our movements curtailed/driving through disenfectant/air of economic gloom whilst on second honeymoon! We only have a couple of weeks left to cancel before forfeiting a large amount of money. Has anyone been to that region very recently and seen first hand how they are dealing with it?

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When I was in Mexico last week, there was a news report. That SW France reported bird flu amongst goose farms. Then they came out reporting that cooked goose was not infected with the bird flu. There have only been a few isolated cases so far in Europe.

I have not heard of historic sites being effected at all. I would not worry. I will be there in July. I am not worried.

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They%26#39;re selling the chickens to the UK and they%26#39;re not on the menu. All poultry are now living indoors, and the farmers remain in business. There%26#39;s just no coq au vin on the menu this month.

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After one week showing a 15-20 % decrease in poultry consumption, poultry producers and retailers now say that everything is back to normal and that the repeated messages that cooked meat is not dangerous, not to mention the endless photo ops of various politicians having chicken, duck and the lot, have borne their fruit.

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I read an interesting article in our national newspaper last weekend. The situation with the Bresse chickens is quite serious. Their special designation is dependent upon raising the birds out doors with 10 sq. metres of space per bird. With the birds now in doors, there is a serious chance that the special designation will be lost. Since the breed is 100% geographically defined, there is also a real chance that the breed will be lost if the designation is lost.

With the breeding and raising system in virtual lockdown this, st least to me, a very serious development especially when the virus has not presented it%26#39;s self in the breed as of yet.

Now since Bourge en Bresse isn%26#39;t Perigord, you trip isn%26#39;t likely to be seriously impacted by the chicken problem but I suspect that very soon the poultry business is going to be essentially in a Biohazard level 4 containment situation.

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Here is the article link: theglobeandmail.com/servlet/…International

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I would not take what North American papers are saying too seriously. It is bad enough what papers in the area say, we all know they are economical with the truth. Try to get feed-back from those actually living in the area.