China is capable of detecting bird flu in human beings if cases
occur, according to an expert from the China Disease Control and
Prevention Center.
"There is no possibility of flu virus slipping by us," said Guo
Yuanji, a researcher with the center.
China is in a leader in the world in the research of flu virus
and has isolated many types of typical flu virus, said Guo, also a
member of the flu contingency team of World Health Organization. So
far, China has set up flu monitoring stations in 31 provinces,
municipalities and autonomous regions.
Guo said that the country's bird flu monitoring system is
composed of two layers, namely, the provincial labs and the state
lab. The provincial labs use reverse transcription-polymerase chain
reaction (RT-PCR) testing and serum testing of samples collected
from those who have contact with infected poultry, while the lab
within the State Flu Center rechecks the suspected cases and makes
a confirmation.
(Xinhua News Agency February 23, 2004)