May 8, 2006
Germany to maintain poultry lock-up to fight bird flu
German Agriculture Minister Horst Seehofer said that measures to lock up domestic fowls to combat bird flu would continue, despite protests by farmers.
About 1000 farmers protested when the government announced an indefinite extension to the lock up in April. The farmers said that the measure affects their livelihoods as chickens in lock-up could not be sold as
The H5N1 strain of bird flu was detected on a poultry farm in Germany's eastern state of Saxony in April. Dead wild birds have tested positive for H5N1 in seven states.
To appease disgruntled farmers, Seehofer has promised state funding to help those affected.
Germany first imposed the lock-up in October last year and re-imposed it again in February after a second outbreak.
