Two duck farms in the communes of Mouliherne and La Lande-Chasles, located in the eastern part of the Maine-et-Loire department in western France, have been confirmed to be affected by avian flu, according to a statement from the departmental prefecture. This marks the detection of two new "highly pathogenic avian influenza" (HPAI) outbreaks on poultry farms in the region. The outbreaks come just days after authorities culled 7,600 ducks at a farm in Longué-Jumelles, near the town of Saumur, in an effort to contain a previous avian flu outbreak. The culling is a common measure taken to prevent the spread of the disease among poultry and to reduce the risk of transmission to other farms or even to humans. Avian flu, or bird flu, is a highly contagious viral disease that primarily affects birds but can occasionally spread to other animals and, in rare cases, humans. The highly pathogenic strains, such as H5N1, can cause severe illness and high mortality rates in poultry, which is why containment measures like culling are often necessary. Authorities are likely monitoring the situation closely and may implement additional biosecurity measures or further culling if needed to prevent the spread of the virus. The outbreaks highlight the ongoing challenges faced by the agricultural sector in managing infectious diseases that can have significant economic and health impacts.