December 8, 2005

China might have to close live poultry markets nationwide
 

China's government might have to close traditional live poultry markets nationwide in a bid to contain bird flu, the World Health Organization said.

WHO representative in China, Dr Henk Bekedam, said slaughtering live animals at 'wet markets' put humans at risk of catching the deadly H5N1 strain of bird flu.

Bekedam applauded the government's recent move to close live bird markets in Beijing, and encouraged this to be repeated nationwide.

However, he also warned against panic over H5N1, adding that there was no scientific proof suggesting the virus could spread from person to person.

Meanwhile, China still needed lots of preparations including more drastic preventative measures to contain the virus, Bekedam said.

He stated that bird flu is best dealt with when it is still confined to poultry, before it could spread to humans.

Bekedam added that to fight bird flu, communication channels must remain open among poultry farmers, local and international organisations, and authorities.

Meanwhile, a 10-year-old girl in the southern Guangxi province has caught bird flu, China's health ministry said.

The girl had developed fever and pneumonia-like symptoms in late November, the ministry added. This marked the fourth case of bird flu in humans in China.

Doctors have been closely monitoring the girl's family and friends for signs of the virus. Investigations were still ongoing to determine how she contracted the disease and WHO has been alerted, the ministry added.