So far, no other pelicans in the zoo have fallen ill, the Federal Food Safety and Veterinary Office (BLV) announced on Friday. Strict measures were taken in the zoo to prevent the virus from spreading. The Office for Veterinary Affairs of the Canton of Bern and the BLV are also expanding the existing control and observation areas along the Aare around Bern from (tomorrow) Saturday.
In these areas, chickens, geese and other domestic poultry are only allowed outside under certain conditions. Contact between wild birds and domestic fowl must be prevented and geese or ratites must be kept separate from chickens. These measures already apply along the large bodies of water in the Central Plateau. They will be extended to the area along the Aare from the influence of the Gürbe to Lake Wohlen at least until March 15th.
According to current knowledge, the virus can only be transmitted to humans in extremely rare cases, as the FSVO writes. As a precaution, people who find wild bird carcasses are asked not to touch them and to report the find to a police station or the game warden. The consumption of poultry meat or eggs is harmless.
Increased hygiene measures
Tierpark Dählholzli immediately took extensive precautionary measures to protect the birds in the zoo. This is how pelicans, flamingos, ducks, chickens and geese are hired. Other aviaries with birds were covered towards the top and special hygiene measures were put in place.
Special hygiene measures also apply to animal keepers to prevent the spread of the virus. The zoo remains open to visitors.
Bird flu is currently found in almost every country in Europe. Mass deaths of waterfowl have been reported in coastal areas along the North Sea. According to the FSVO, there is a constant risk of migratory birds bringing the virus into Switzerland.
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