May 23, 2005

China steps up urgent measures for avian flu

China has ordered nationwide emergency measures to prevent an outbreak of avian flu after it was found that migratory birds in a north-western province had died from the virus. The species were reportedly from South-east Asia, although no further details were given.

Tests confirmed that the geese found dead in Qinghai province had been infected with the H5N1 virus.

Health experts worry that such migratory birds crossing China en route to and from the northern and southern hemispheres could infect domestic flock with the deadly H5N1 virus. 

Since the SARS epidemic of 2003, China has stepped up efforts to prevent the spread of infectious diseases through a nationwide disease-warning network and contingency plans for possible outbreaks.  In the previous bird flu alert, China slaughtered millions of birds and quarantined large areas of farm country to keep the disease from spreading to other animals and possibly humans.

In this latest incident, Qinghai has transferred vaccines for 3 million poultry to prevent the spread of bird flu, and is planning to vaccine all poultry in the province.

The Xinhua News Agency reported that China's Ministry of Agriculture has pinned the source of bird flu infection on migratory birds, although some experts have disagreed saying that domestic fowl could have passed the H5N1 strain to wild birds.

China's most recent known case of bird flu occurred last July in the eastern province of Anhui.