January 3, 2006

China to host international bird flu fund-raising conference

China would host an international bird flu fund-raising conference from Jan 17 to 18 in Beijing. The UN Food and Agriculture Organization and World Bank would be present as well to hold the event.

The country's agriculture and health ministries also said China would strengthen cooperation with international organisations against bird flu.

In addition, the government said it would further improve medical treatments for bird flu, and enhance the sanitation and epidemic prevention system at the community level.

China has also handed over the bird flu strains from the human infections so far to the World Health Organization for study.

Meanwhile, the WHO has sent a delegation to Chinese regions affected by bird flu to investigate the situation.