As the death toll rose to 18 in Asia, Vice-Premier Hui Liangyu
said China is focused on prevention and control of the bird flu,
and will enhance international cooperation in the growing
fight.
Two more deaths in Viet Nam Friday, once again raised the number
of people killed by avian influenza.
Meanwhile, a UN official said there is not enough evidence to
prove the bird flu virus infects pigs. Earlier on Friday, Anton
Rychener, of the United Nations' Food and Agriculture Organization
(FAO), said pigs in and around Viet Nam's capital of Hanoi tested
positive for the H5N1 virus, the most infectious bird flu
virus.
The finding was alarming because pigs, whose immune system is
similar to that in humans, can become a "mixing vessel" for the flu
virus and allow it to infect people infect people.
But Dick Thompson, a spokesman for the communicable diseases
division of the World Health Organization's (WHO), said it is too
early to make a final conclusion.
As the virus spreads, China has stepped up to the international
co-operation plate.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Zhang Qiyue said Friday the
government decided to offer urgent aid to six Asian countries
suffering from avian influenza.
The six countries are Viet Nam, Thailand, Indonesia, Laos,
Cambodia and Pakistan, Zhang said.
At the same time, China's State Administration for Industry and
Commerce issued an emergency notice on Friday, requiring immediate
shutdown of all live poultry markets within a 10-km radius of bird
flu-affected areas and halting trade of live poultry in ordinary
markets.
Still, vice-premier Hui urged Chinese scientists to step up
research on vaccines and diagnostic technology, while strengthening
study on bird epidemiology, pre-empting new infection channels and
developing prevention methods.
Hui also said China will issue accurate, correct and timely
reports on the spread of the disease, stressing the country plans
to establish transparent and effective channels of communication
with international organizations, countries and regions to build a
united front against bird flu.
In a meeting with Gamal Ahmen, the China representative of the
FAO, and WHO representative Henk Bekedam, Hui spoke highly of the
effective links between China and the UN agencies.
The vice-premier thanked the two international organizations for
understanding and supporting China's efforts to overcome the bird
flu crisis.
The representatives of the two international organizations
commented positively on China's attitude and policies as regards
the epidemic, and expressed their understanding about the current
adverse impact the disease has brought on the Chinese people.
The FAO and the WHO will join hands with China to fight the
epidemic, the representatives of the two international
organizations vowed.
(China Daily February 7, 2004)