|
China to vaccinate all 14bn poultry against bird flu
(AP)
Updated: 2005-11-16 01:18
Infections have been reported in almost every part of the country since Oct.
19, including Inner Mongolia and Liaoning province in the north, Anhui province
in the east and Hunan and Hubei in central China.
In June, 460 geese died in another epidemic in Xinjiang and health officials
said more than 13,000 geese were culled.
While China has not reported a human case of the disease, experts warn that
it is inevitable if the government cannot stop repeated outbreaks in poultry.
Experts have also said that improper vaccinations could breed a
drug-resistant form of the virus or mask symptoms.
Dr. Noureddin Mona, the representative in China for the U.N. Food and
Agriculture Organization, said vaccinations were a "good thing" as long as the
vaccine used has been approved by the government.
"Vaccinations are part of surveillance," said Mona. "This will enhance and
improve the surveillance system."
|
