STOCKHOLM, June 1 (Xinhua) -- Norway revoked its ban
on free-range poultry in its southern counties on Thursday, according to reports
from Oslo, capital of the country.
The Norwegian Food Safety Authority took the decision after observing that the risk of an H5N1 bird flu pandemic was
diminishing, and no areas in Norway were at high risk.
The health authority made a statement that "because
of the bird flu situation now ... there are no special demands for the raising
of poultry or other birds now."
But if the situation changed, they could re-impose
the measures swiftly, the authority added.
The authority imposed the ban in eight southern
counties in February to prevent the deadly virus from spreading. But so far,
H5N1 bird flu has not been detected in Norway.
The deadly strain has killed more than 120 people
worldwide since its outbreak in southeast Asia in late 2003. Most victims were
infected after close contact with sick birds.
The virus currently can only jump from birds to
people, but scientists fear that it could mutate into a form capable of passing
easily among humans and spark a global pandemic. Enditem
