October 24, 2005

Beijing monitors migratory birds for flu
 

Chinese officials are monitoring migratory birds for signs of bird flu in Beijing Saturday, and are on high alert at the city's air, road and rail entry points, state media reported.

Beijing is about 420 kilometres from Hohhot, the capital of China's northern Inner Mongolia region, where the government this week reported its latest outbreak of the virulent H5N1 flu strain among birds.

The city plans to turn back travellers from Hohhot carrying birds or related products, the Beijing Youth Daily said, without giving specifics.

It also said the shoe soles of passengers arriving in Beijing by land and air would be sterilized. The report did not say how the shoes would be sterilized or give an estimate of how many people arrive in Beijing daily. Similar measures were announced for Shanghai Friday.

China has reported no human cases of bird flu, but scientists say it is a huge incubator for the disease because of its large poultry industry and vast territory.

Some 57 bird monitoring sites are on alert for signs of sickness among migratory birds in Beijing's inner city and suburbs, the paper said, citing the city's Forestry Bureau.

About 50 people are assigned to keep track of bird migration patterns with telescopes at 14 reservoirs and parks with big water areas, the paper said. They will also collect sick or dead birds to have them tested for flu.

The city has maintained such monitoring sites in previous years but this year the number was increased from 41 to 57 sites, it said.

In Inner Mongolia, 2,600 chickens and ducks were reported dead this week, and 21 people who had contact with the birds were under medical observation and have been given flu vaccinations.

Bird flu outbreaks were reported earlier this year in China's northern Qinghai province as well as in Xinjiang and Tibet in the far west.