European Farmers Ordered to Keep Poultry Indoors

[callady]

European farmers ordered to keep poultry indoors
By David Rennie, Charles Clover and Richard Savill
October 16, 2005

European farmers have been told to keep poultry flocks away from migratory birds in all areas considered "high risk" for possible infection with bird flu, under stringent new European Union guidelines.

Affected farms include those that are close to wetlands, ponds or other areas visited by migratory birds that might carry the H5N1 avian influenza virus into Western Europe. Some farms will have to move flocks indoors.

The move came as lab tests in Britain confirmed that an outbreak of bird flu in Romania is that of the highly pathogenic H5N1 strain, Romania's state veterinarian authority said yesterday.

"We have received telephone confirmation from London that it is the H5N1 virus," Alina Monea, spokeswoman at Romania's veterinary and animal health authority said.

http://smh.com.au/news/world/european-farmers-ordered-to-keep-poultry-indoors/2005/10/15/1128796745212.html

[kestrel91316]

1. A very sensible move. Kudos to the EU's public health veterinarians.

[burrowowl]

2. Yes!

Better than killing them and migratory birds!

[lovuian]

3. If this gets into the chicken farms of Europe this will be devastating

this is a major food source for Europe!!!

[ShockediSay]

4. Truly, the chickens have come home to roost n/t