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Germany tightens rules for poultry farms amid bird flu cases

BERLIN – Germany is calling on farmers to take further precautionary measures following a rash of bird flu cases in the country.

Earlier this week a flock of 30,000 chickens was destroyed in the northern state of Schleswig-Holstein after the H5N8-strain of bird flu was detected in their enclosure.

Several German states have already ordered farmers to keep their chickens, ducks and other fowl indoors to prevent them picking up the virus, which can easily spread among birds but is not known to infect humans.

The Agriculture Ministry said Friday that a nationwide order to move poultry indoors is being mulled. For now, farmers with more than 1,000 animals are being told to increase hygiene measures and stop unauthorized persons from entering barns.

The virus has been detected in several European countries.

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