March 28, 2007

Switzerland's federal veterinary office relaxes bird flu measures

The Swiss Federal veterinary office Tuesday (Mar 27) said it has lifted the restrictions on keeping fowl outdoors, which were in place as a precautionary measure against the spread of bird flu from wild birds to domestically kept ones.

"The warm winter and positive bird flu situation means the restrictions can be lifted ahead of schedule," the office said. This had originally been foreseen for the end of April.

The restrictions were in place near large bodies of water. The warm winter means many winter birds have already started the trek north, the veterinary office said. And this winter, no bird flu was discovered in wild birds in Western Europe.