Shenzhen's municipal inspection and quarantine authorities have pledged to thoroughly inspect 30 local poultry farms, which supply frozen birds to Hong Kong on a regular basis, after a human bird flu case was confirmed Sunday in the neighboring city of Guangzhou, the Daily Sunshine reported Tuesday.

No bird flu case has been reported in Shenzhen so far, said Shenzhen Vice Mayor Liu Yingli at a meeting Monday. He however urged quarantine departments to stay on high alert against the virus and increase preventive measures.

The mass inspection will address the vaccination, hygiene and health of birds on the farms, the Daily Sunshine quoted a quarantine official as saying yesterday.

The inspection and quarantine bureau will also call a meeting of bird farmers and processed chicken suppliers to urge them to vaccinate all birds, keep a close watch on the health of their employees, and report any suspected case of the avian flu. The bird suppliers are required to submit a report of the health of their employees on a weekly basis.

The official said the bureau is planning to step up body temperature checks at the checkpoints between Shenzhen and Hong Kong to catch possible flu patients.

The 32-year-old bird flu victim died Thursday in Guangzhou was confirmed Sunday as the ninth fatality to the H5N1 virus on the mainland.

All birds in Shenzhen were vaccinated against the bird flu in October last year, Liu said, who then ordered renewed vaccination for some of the birds brought in from other places after the Spring Festival.

The vice mayor also asked the five wholesale bird markets in the city to be disinfected and examined regularly. “All birds sold in the markets should have the three certificates proving they are vaccinated, disinfected and examined,” the mayor said.

A total of 19 human bird flu monitoring stations have been set up in the city, and Shenzhen has stockpiled flu vaccines, drugs and disinfectants, the Shenzhen Special Zone Daily said yesterday.

(Shenzhen Daily March 9, 2006)