October 2, 2006

Switzerland outlines new plan against bird flu 

The Swiss government said Friday (Sep 29) that it would re-impose a ban on free-range poultry this winter to protect against new infections of bird flu, but that only domestic birds near major lakes in Switzerland would have to go indoors.

From Oct 15 to the end of April, poultry within one kilometre of major lakes must be kept under shelter, to prevent their coming into contact with infected migratory birds wild, the Economics Ministry said in a statement.

The restrictions apply to about 5,000 birds this winter--less than a tenth of the number affected by nationwide indoor requirements imposed last year, the statement said. The ministry can ease or tighten the restrictions as needed, it said.

About half a million migratory water fowl spend time each winter on the 20 or so lakes referred to under the new outdoor poultry ban.

Last winter, 32 wild birds found dead in Switzerland tested positive for the deadly H5N1 strain of bird flu, but the virus did not spread to domestic fowl.