January 2, 2009

China's Guangdong tightens poultry market inspection

Agricultural authorities in south China's Guangdong province tighten inspections in poultry markets after an 82-day-old baby girl was diagnosed in Hong Kong with bird flu.

Health officials inspected a restaurant near the girl's home that kept live chickens an sterilised the area around her home.

No further infections were detected in the province, the provincial agricultural department announced on Wednesday.

The provincial agricultural department instructed the Shenzhen bureau to step up efforts to prevent and control the pathogenic bird flu. All poultry in Shenzhen have been vaccinated.

The department also sent five extra teams to other areas of Guangdong to inspect bird flu prevention and control measures.