Restoring wetlands key to curbing bird flu: report

By Marie-Louise Gumuchian
Tue Apr 11, 4:37 PM ET

Restoring wetlands and clearing poultry farms from migratory flyways could help curb the spread of bird flu by stopping wild birds from mixing with domestic fowl, a U.N.-commissioned report said on Tuesday.

The clearance of wetlands due to drainage for agriculture or hydroelectric projects is forcing some wild birds on to alternative sites such as farm ponds and paddy fields, bringing them into direct contact with domestic poultry, the report said.

This increases the spread of the virus, which has jumped from Asia to Europe, the Middle East and Africa.