September 9, 2005

German states put poultry in pens to prevent bird flu

Two German state governments have ordered farmers to keep their poultry inside pens from Sept 15 onwards, to prevent bird flu spread by the especially large number of wild birds in these areas.

The states of Lower Saxony and North Rhine Westphalia fear that bird flu could spread through wild birds migrating from parts of Russia and Asia.

Though the EC regarded the bird flu risk as low and said there was no need for governments to ban farmers from keeping poultry outdoors, the Netherlands had already also done so.

Germany's state governments too have the power to order such bans if they wish.

The numbers of poultry kept outside in Germany have risen dramatically in recent years due to increasing consumer demand for free-range eggs and meat.

In the meantime, WHO has warned that a bird flu pandemic is already at the final stage of occurring.

WHO's communicable diseases department director Dr. Jai P. Narain said that it is no longer a question of whether a bird flu pandemic will occur, but when it will happen.

Narain also said the concern is not only on poultry, but in a whole range of bird species.

He added that migrating birds posed a serious risk of spreading bird flu around the world, and that as winter approaches Asia is very vulnerable, as migratory birds traditionally fly towards Asia to escape cold winter months.