Government decides on measures to prevent the spread of bird flu – Liechtenstein
After the bird flu occurred in a private animal husbandry in the canton of Zurich, the Federal Food Safety and Veterinary Office FSVO, in consultation with the cantons, ordered Switzerland-wide protective measures. “The Liechtenstein ordinance comes into force at the same time as the identical Federal Office ordinance in Switzerland on Monday in a broadcast.
From Monday, November 28, 2022, all poultry farmers in Liechtenstein are required to comply with the following regulations:
– Restrict domestic poultry to an area protected from wild birds. If this is not possible, ensure that feeding and watering points are not accessible to wild birds. Protect exercise areas and water basins from wild birds with fences or close-meshed nets.
– Keep chickens separate from geese and ducks.
– Prevent the virus from being introduced into animal husbandry via people and
Equipment: Therefore, limit access to the animals to the essentials and set up a hygiene sluice. Put on clean shoes and clothes and wash and disinfect hands before entering.
Poultry markets and exhibitions are prohibited.
These measures apply to both livestock and hobby keeping at least until February 15, 2023. Direct payments for “particularly animal-friendly keeping” will continue to be paid out and the designation “free range” can still be used for the time being. Since January 1, 2010, the registration of poultry farms – even with just a few animals – has been obligatory.
Do not touch dead birds
“According to the current state of knowledge, the H5N1 virus strain that is currently circulating can only be transmitted to humans in extremely rare cases and only with very close contact. Poultry products such as chicken meat and eggs can be consumed without hesitation. For safety reasons, dead wild birds should generally not be touched. They are the game guard, the state police or the Office for Food Control and Veterinary Affairs ALKVW,” says the broadcast from the Ministry of Society and Culture.