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Measures taken to prevent avian flu from infecting domestic birds, human beings
27/5/2005 17:02

The Chinese government has taken measures to prevent domestic birds and human beings from being infected by avian flu virus carried by wild birds, China's national chief veterinary officer said in Beijing Friday.
At a press conference of the Information Office of the State Council, Jia Youling, director general of the Veterinary Bureau of the Ministry of Agriculture, said that the affected Niannaisuma Village of Quanji Township of Gangca County, Qinghai Province, has been sealed off right after death of some migratory birds was found. He said there had been no precedent in the world to prevent and control avian influenza among migratory birds, and China's measures are all aimed at preventing the virus from spreading to domestic animals and human beings.
Up to May 26, more than 1,000 migratory birds including bar- headed geese and great black-headed gulls were killed by bird flu virus in northwest China's Qinghai Province. No tourists and irrelevant persons had been allowed to get into the habitats of migratory birds and the infected areas since the outbreak, he said.
Jia said that the Ministry of Agriculture has informed countries concerned and the United Nations Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) about the avian influenza case among migratory birds.
In the meantime, the national chief veterinary officer also notified the Director General of World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) about the case in the name of an expert.
"Although China is not a formal member of OIE, we still follow the general rules of the organization about animal diseases. China has always been actively taking part in the activities sponsored by FAO or jointly by FAO and OIE on international veterinary issues," he said.



 Xinhua news