November 11, 2005

China's agricultural ministry sends open letter to farmers on bird flu

China's Ministry of Agriculture sent on Nov 10 an open letter to the country's 800 million rural residents, urging them to take up preventive bird flu measures.

In a letter posted on its official website, the ministry advised farmers to be more aware of the bird flu disease and to make better preparations against the further spread of bird flu.

Farmers were also urged to have their chickens vaccinated, not to buy fake vaccines, and to be quick in reporting suspected bird flu cases to local vet stations or government departments in charge of poultry husbandry.

In the letter, the ministry also shared with farmers tips on keeping their henhouses clean, and explained the basic symptoms of chickens showing symptoms of bird flu.

So far, four provincial areas in China-the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region in north China, Anhui province in east China, Liaoning province in north-west China and Hunan province in central China-have been hit by the disease.