Avian flu H5N4 has been detected in just a buzzard and a gull in Switzerland so far this year.
Keystone / Patrick Pleul
The threat of avian flu infecting Swiss poultry has receded to the point that precautionary measures can be lifted along parts of the border with Germany.
This content was published on
1 minute
swissinfo.ch/mga
The Federal Food Safety and Veterinary Office (FSVO) declared the risk to be minimal on Thursday, citing just two positive cases in the country this year.
In January, farmers around Lake Constance and stretches of the Rhine in north-eastern Switzerland were told to keep poultry indoors or under netting to avoid contact with wild birds during the winter migration season.
Just two cases of H5N4 bird flu were discovered in February, in a gull and a buzzard.
“Studies show that the bird flu virus is currently not spreading any further in Switzerland or neighbouring countries. However, the situation is still being closely monitored,” read an FSVO statement.
Last year, the Swiss authorities issued a red alert following the discovery of several cases in Europe. Measures were also put into place in 2016 when around 80 dead birds were found in the Lake Constance region.
This type of bird flu virus is not thought to spread from animals to humans, but people have been warned not to touch dead birds as a precaution.
Most Read Swiss Abroad
More
Why cars still reign supreme in ‘rail-nation’ Switzerland
Swiss price watchdog slams excessive prices for generic medicines
This content was published on
The cheapest generic medicines available in Switzerland are more than twice as expensive as in other countries, according to a study by the Swiss price watchdog.
Nature should not figure in net zero calculations: academic study
This content was published on
The natural removal of CO2 from the atmosphere by forests or oceans should not be included in the net-zero balance of climate protection measures, argue researchers.
This content was published on
None of the 15 major Swiss retail banks is meeting international climate and biodiversity targets, according to a ranking by WWF Switzerland.
This content was published on
Nestlé's new CEO Laurent Freixe, has presented plans for the future of the world's largest food company, after his first few weeks in office.
Swiss foreign minister calls on Moscow to end Ukraine war
This content was published on
It's high time Moscow ended its war against Ukraine, Swiss foreign minister Ignazio Cassis tells the UN Security Council.
This content was published on
The only alternative to the UN Palestinian agency’s work in Gaza is to allow Israel to run services there, Philippe Lazzarini, UNRWA Commissioner-General, told reporters in Geneva on Monday.
Study reveals food culture differences between Switzerland and neighbours
This content was published on
Three-quarters of Swiss people consider eating to be a pleasurable, social activity, a new survey reveals. Healthy eating, however, plays a much less important role, it found.
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.
Read more
More
First bird flu case spotted in Switzerland this winter
This content was published on
The bird flu virus has been detected in a seagull in the northeastern Swiss canton of Schaffhausen, near the German border.
This content was published on
Millions of wild birds fly over Swiss territory during the autumn migration period and it is feared that some of them could be carriers of the deadly virus. The detection of bird flu in Russia has prompted European nations to step up preventive measures. The Netherlands has already instructed farmers to keep poultry indoors. A…
This content was published on
The Federal Veterinary Office said on Friday that these zones were considered to be the most at risk from the deadly H5N1 strain of the virus, of which there have been recent cases in neighbouring countries. From October 15 a one-kilometre zone around Switzerland’s largest lakes, such as Lake Constance and Lake Geneva, will be…
This content was published on
As veterinary experts know, it’s not a question of if the next big disease outbreak happens but when, something that the new Swiss animal health strategy aims to address. Although Switzerland is widely regarded as a best practice example in the area of animal health, global developments make vigilance essential. On Tuesday the Federal Veterinary…
You can find an overview of ongoing debates with our journalists here . Please join us!
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.