February 4, 2005

Shenzhen takes steps to prevent bird flu

Shenzhen entry-exit inspection and quarantine bureau has initiated contingency plans to guard against deadly bird flu entering the city from abroad.

The city government has started compulsory sterilization of all transport vehicles and vessels from nine countries including South Korea, Japan, Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines at the Shekou and Yantian container terminals and Shenzhen airport.

Measures are also being taken to strengthen on-the-spot examinations of passengers from the nine countries to prevent human-to-human spread of bird flu.

Passengers with bird flu symptoms must report immediately to the city's health authorities.

Relevant government departments have implemented a clean-up and quarantine campaign in the city's 53 export-oriented poultry farms to remove potential hazards. So far, no bird flu has been reported in any of the registered poultry farms.

City authorities will also take strict measures to crack down on the smuggling of live and frozen chickens to Hong Kong.

Liu Shengli, director general of the entry-exit inspection and quarantine bureau, said more than 50 percent of live and frozen chicken supplies in Hong Kong came from Shenzhen.

Shenzhen's key concern is that bird flu does not spread from countries where the disease had been found, Liu said.