With more avian flu reports cropping up in China, the nation is
faced with great challenges in preventing further spread of the
disease. The Chinese government has, however, promised an
aggressive effort towards containing the epidemic. During his
inspection of affected areas, Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao sent a
message to local people that, although a tough job, the government
will step up its efforts to deal with the disease.
The deadly avian influenza has fast spread throughout China. The
Chinese Premier toured parts of the central Hubei and eastern Anhui
provinces affected by the flu and promised compensation for
farmers. Central authorities have issued strict guidelines to try
and control further spread. All poultry found within five
kilometers of affected sites must be vaccinated. And all birds,
even the vaccinated ones, found within Three kilometers of affected
sites, must be culled.
Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao said: "Even if fowl have been
vaccinated, they still have to be slaughtered. I hope people can
understand that. "
With regard to the reported outbreak of the bird flu in 10
provinces and municipalities around the country, the Premier said
while preventing human infection is very important, attention must
also be paid to protecting the poultry industry. To help cope with
the disease, the State Council has established National Bird Flu
Prevention Headquarters to coordinate prevention measures. Chinese
analysts have so far not found evidence to link the Chinese
outbreaks.
Li Wanyou, veterinary specialist with National Animal Husbandry
and Veterinary Service, said: "The epidemic is still developing. I
think the major reason of the outbreak is a lack of adequate
raising conditions for poultry, and the temperature. Some birds'
immune systems have failed to resist virus attacks, but these cases
do not seem connected."
Li said migrant birds are still suspected to have carried the
virus to domesticated flocks. The Chinese Ministry of Health says
that so far, there have been no known human cases of infection. The
Chinese government and the WHO have both repudiated claims that the
virus originated in China. There are, as yet, no clear answers as
to where it originated, nor how it develops. But China has, at
least, improved mechanisms to cope with the spread of an
epidemic.
Although avian flu has spread rapidly in China, last year's
experience of SARS has left the authorities and people better
equipped to cope with the new challenge.
(CCTV.com February 3, 2004)