German farmers bid to prevent bird flu

Three German states today required farmers to keep their poultry in closed sheds or cages in an attempt to protect them from exposure to migratory birds that could spread bird flu from Russia.

The restrictions in parts of North Rhine-Westphalia, Lower Saxony and Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania will remain in force until November.

Farmers could face stiff fines if they break the new rules on keeping chickens, turkeys, ducks, geese, partridges and pheasants.

Authorities are worried migratory birds could carry bird flu to Europe, including a deadly strain known as H5N1 which has killed almost 60 people in Asia and reached areas of eastern Russia.

Bird flu has killed 11,000 birds in Russia, and caused a culling of 127,000 other birds to try to stop the spread of the virus.