Regions with newly reported suspected bird flu outbreaks in quick move to counterattack the disease

The three provinces and municipality where new suspected bird flu cases were reported Friday are in full gear to fight against the highly infectious animal-sourced disease.

The areas probably affected by the disease include Shanghai,east China's Anhui Province and south China's Guangdong Province,increasing bird flu-stricken provinces,autonomous regions and municipalities on the Chinese Mainland to six.

Chickens were found dead from Jan.25 to 27 in chicken farms in Xiangshan Town,Yushan District of Ma'anshan City and in Liaolin Village,Guangde County of Anhui respectively.Local quarantine departments were informed of the death on Jan.27and isolated thechicken farm immediately for sterilization and quarantine treatment.

So far,poultry within three kilometers of the chicken farms were slaughtered and disinfected,and those within five kilometers vaccinated.

Meanwhile,the Ma'anshan City government ordered immediate hygiene checks and sterilization measures taken in local marketplaces,hotels,retail stands and food to prevent the disease from jumping to humans.

So far,the outbreaks were put under control in the two affected localities in Anhui.

Suspected bird flu outbreaks were discovered in Yiyuan Village,Kongqiao Town of Nanhui District,Shanghai Thursday night and the information was released to the public Friday evening.

By Friday night,35,000poultry in the possible flu-hit farm and no less than 300,000birds within three kilometers of the farm have been killed.Local quarantine departments have disinfected the slaughtered birds and vaccinated poultry within five kilometers of the farm.

Zhu Delong,a veteran chicken farmer in Yiyuan Village,had all his 3,000chickens killed Friday afternoon according to requirements of the local quarantine department although no suspected bird flu cases were discovered on his farm.

The farmer said "killing the birds for the health of people is acceptable".To make Zhu's nerve even more relaxed,the local government plans to compensate for his losses and his fellow poultry farmers properly.

One of Zhu Delong's neighbors told Xinhua that none of his fellow villagers have fled homes for fear of the bird flu.

At an emergency conference on bird flu held in Shanghai Friday morning,Chen Liangyu,secretary of the Shanghai Municipal Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC),demanded unreserved efforts be taken to prevent the possible bird flu outbreak from spreading further.

About 1,300ducks were found dead in Jidong County,Jieyang City of Guangdong Friday morning and it was diagnosed as suspectedbird flu case shortly after.

By press time,2,450poultry within three kilometers of the farm where the dead ducks were found have been slaughtered and disinfected and those within five kilometers vaccinated.

The Jieyang City government has allocated one million yuan (121,000US dollars)to buy bird flu vaccines and established eight examination stations to block entry and exit of all poultry products.

In the meantime,the Guangdong provincial government has purchased 80million bird flu vaccines and allocated some 10million yuan (1.21million US dollars)to help vaccinate poultry in the province.Inspection was also tightened on poultry and people in close contact with poultry products to ensure the possible bird flu outbreak under effective control.

So far,no other suspected bird flu outbreaks were reported in other localities in the three new affected regions and no humans infected with bird flu found on China's mainland.

Normal life in the affected regions of Anhui,Shanghai and Guangdong have not been affected by the suspected bird flu outbreaks,with shops operating normally and residents going through daily routines as usual.

The State Administration of Quality Supervision,Inspection andQuarantine (SAQSIQ) Friday banned exports of poultry and related products from Shanghai,Anhui and Guangdong.

The SAQSIQ also halted exports of poultry and related products from central China's Hubei and Hunan provinces,where bird flu cases have been confirmed Friday,and exports of poultry and fowl products from Shanghai,Anhui and Guangdong to other localities including Hong Kong and Macao.