Jane Chen / Shanghai Daily news

Shanghai's Mayor Han Zheng on February 5 inspected a chicken farm in the city's Kangqiao area, where a suspected case of avian influenza was reported on January 31.

The farm he visited is about 2 kilometers from the flu reporting farm and 5,000 chickens on the farm were all slaughtered five days ago to prevent possible spread of the bird flu.

"To control the bird flu, we should guarantee a 100 percent quarantine and disinfect of poultry," Han said, adding, "It's very important to prevent people from being infected with the virus, especially people who come in close contact with poultry."

During the visit, Han asked the farm's owner Wei Gendi whether she can accept the government's mandatory chicken slaughter move. Wei replied "I felt it hard to accept at first. But later on as more bird flu reports run on the media, I come to realize the importance of the move."

She said she received the government subsides five days after the slaughter.

Wei expressed the will to continue the chicken raising business after the government lifts the ban on live poultry and when the business gets better assurance in technology and security.

Following the farm visit, Han inspected the pasturage vet station in Kangqiao.