Sweden orders farmers to keep poultry indoors to prevent bird flu

Sweden agricultural officials on Thursday introduced new rules requiring farmers to keep poultry indoors to prevent an outbreak of bird flu.

The Swedish Board of Agriculture also said chickens and turkeys should not be allowed to drink from open-air water sources such as lakes and rivers.

The new rules were introduced as precautionary measures to hinder the spread of the deadly H5N1 bird flu strain from migrating birds to domestic fowl in Sweden. Several European countries have imposed similar regulations.

Sweden has not found any birds with the aggressive strain of the virus, reports the AP.

P.T.