Ministries order tighter control on poultry markets

(China Daily/Xinhua)
Updated: 2009-01-23 07:52

Health and agriculture authorities across the country have tightened monitoring at markets and hospitals, following the central government's call for daily reports on the bird flu situation.

On Tuesday, the central government issued a circular ordering local government agencies to work together to improve supervision at live poultry markets, which, according to some experts, is key to the control and prevention of bird flu.

Under the ruling, local offices must maintain a 24-hour presence at the markets. If bird flu is detected or suspected, officials must instigate an emergency response procedure, which includes identifying the source and isolating anyone that has been in close contact with infected birds.

Local bureaus of the three agencies were also told to set up a daily epidemic surveillance and reporting system, and to cooperate with each other in the event of any outbreaks.

Three people have died of bird flu in China this year and a 2-year-old girl surnamed Peng who contracted the virus is in hospital in Shanxi province.

The Shanghai health bureau yesterday told medical institutions in the city to be on high alert for bird flu and report any cases immediately.

The city's center for disease control also warned people to avoid contact with live poultry and not to buy birds from peddlers or unauthorized shops.

The Shanghai health authority said its 52 monitoring stations had reported nothing unusual, while the number of reported flu cases was lower than in previous years.

Also yesterday, Guangdong Vice-Governor Li Ronggen told local government departments to beef up control measures.

In response, the department of agriculture sent 11 groups of inspectors to conduct tests on poultry at markets, the Southern Daily reported yesterday.

The tests found that more than 80 percent of the birds had been vaccinated against the flu.

Shu Yuelong, a flu researcher at the China Center for Disease Control and Prevention, said yesterday that people need not worry that the high numbers of trips during Spring Festival will increase the chance of the disease spreading.