Local authorities across the nation stepped up the war against avian influenza after three outbreaks and the death of a girl who had pneumonia-like symptoms in a bird flu-hit area this month.

Increased surveillance on migratory birds has become a priority in many areas and local officials are setting up checkpoints to keep questionable poultry away from markets.

In Harbin, capital of Northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, a pigeon race was cancelled for fears that the birds might transmit the virus even though an organizer said homing pigeons could not fly as far as Inner Mongolia, Anhui or Hunan where outbreaks were reported.

In Shanghai, medical staff are being trained to handle an emergency; vaccine research has become a key focus; and emergency materials, such as disinfectant and protective outerwear, are being stockpiled.

In Shenzhen of South China's Guangdong Province, health workers are distributing brochures which explain the differences between regular and bird flu and give tips on hygiene.

The Hong Kong government will conduct a drill next month in case of a flu outbreak. Residential communities, hospitals and even Chief Executive Donald Tsang will participate, Xinhua News Agency reported.

The three bird flu-stricken areas in Central China's Hunan Province, East China's Anhui Province and the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region of North China remain closed to outsiders.

Health authorities had confirmed the death of a 12-year-old girl this month in Hunan after she ate a disease-stricken chicken and caught pneumonia.

The Ministry of Health reported the girl's death to the World Health Organization on Friday evening.

Tamiflu production

Swiss drug maker Roche Holding AG reiterated yesterday that it is looking for outside producers for its Tamiflu drug, amid skyrocketing demand and concerns about a possible pandemic caused by bird flu.

"We are currently assessing which organizations and countries have the ability to supplement our own capability," Roche Chairman Franz Humer said on the sidelines of an event in Shanghai, Reuters reported.

Demand has soared in recent weeks for Tamiflu, an antiviral drug approved for use as a treatment but not a cure for seasonal flu, amid mounting concerns of a potential flu pandemic that could be caused by the H5N1 strain of bird flu.

Countries, companies and individuals have been stockpiling the prescription drug, prompting Roche to suspend deliveries in the United States last week to prevent a run on stocks by consumers and companies.

The spike in demand led Roche to say it would enter into discussions with other companies, primarily makers of generic or copycat drugs, and with governments in developing countries over whether they can help produce the drug in part of as a whole.

The company also previously said it would not let patents stand in the way of getting Tamiflu to patients in case of a bird flu pandemic.

Some countries, such as Argentina, have said they will produce their own version of Tamiflu.

Humer said the decision whether or not countries should stockpile the drug was up to individual nations.

"Countries need to make up their own mind what they intend to do," he said.