September 25, 2007

FAO: "China ready to share disease details"

China will definitely share information and experiences with the international community on animal disease surveillance and control regarding either bird flu or the blue ear pig disease, according to an official of the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).

FAO animal health expert Vincent Martin said on Friday (September 21) that he did not agree with some Western media reports, which suggested the Chinese government was reluctant to report outbreaks of Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome (PRRS), more commonly known as blue ear pig disease, and was unwilling to share information on the disease, found so far in China and Vietnam, with the international community.

Martin said FAO is "very satisfied" with the Chinese government's cooperation on disease control.

He said that China has well-informed the World Organization for Animal Health and the FAO on the progress of the disease since the first cases of PRRS were detected in the summer of 2006.

Earlier this month, Martin had visited Sichuan Province and the nearby Chongqing, which are among the worst-affected areas.

He said the epidemic seems to be receding across the country and the "situation is much better now."