November 2, 2005

China reports no bird flu in migratory birds

China's government said there have been no reports of bird flu among migratory birds since June this year.

The conclusion was based on observations from 118 monitoring stations for epidemic diseases in wild land animals nationwide, according to an official.

Provincial authorities across China have also reportedly set up over 400 similar monitoring stations locally.

The official added that all local forestry authorities have banned people, livestock and poultry from entering nesting areas of migratory birds, in order to avoid the risk of transmission between species.

Local authorities have so far culled all poultry in bird flu-hit areas, and set a five-kilometre quarantine radius around the epicentres, the government said.