China's southern city of Guangzhou has destroyed 153,320
domestic fowls in the wake of an outbreak of bird flu, local
authorities said on Tuesday.
The extermination of 134,384 ducks, 18,786 chickens and 150
doves was carried out in nine villages within a radius of three
kilometers from the site of the outbreak, an official with the
Panyu district government said.
A total of 68 poultry farmers in Panyu district who have had
close contact with ducks killed by bird flu have taken blood tests
and medical checkups, and were found to be in good condition.
The Ministry of Agriculture and the National Avian Influenza
Reference Laboratory have confirmed a subtype H5N1 bird flu strain
killed 9,830 ducks raised in Sixian Village of Panyu District in
Guangzhou City since September 5.
The Panyu district government announced on Tuesday the
suspension of all poultry markets within a 13-kilometer-radius
surveillance zone. Tan Yinghua, Party chief of the district, told
Xinhua the district would put more pork, beef and fish on the
market to meet the needs of local consumers.
As the world's largest producer of poultry, livestock and
aquatic products, China has suffered huge economic losses from
outbreaks of animal diseases. It is estimated that animal diseases
cost China 40 billion yuan annually
The previous reported case of H5N1 bird flu in China occurred in
May in central China's Hunan Province, which killed more than
11,000 poultry with another 52,800 birds being culled.
China has reported 25 human cases of bird flu since 2003, which
have resulted in 16 deaths.
(Xinhua News Agency September 19, 2007)