At 61 and retired from public service, Jia Youling could have settled down to a tranquil life like most of his peers.

Instead, the former chief of China's veterinary bureau took on a new role this month that will continue to keep him close to what he does best.

Jia has been chosen as a member of the National Committee of the CPPCC, the country's top political advisory body.

"I'm shifting to a new phase in my life, which I hope will put me at a better position to review the work familiar to me and look further beyond my beloved turf," Jia told China Daily yesterday.

Jia is remembered as the face of bird flu control in a country whose poultry population - the world's largest - was shaken by a highly contagious strain of the disease four years ago, but regained its vigor with massive vaccination and culling measures.

In 2004, China reported 50 cases of the H5N1 virus. The number plummeted to four last year, official figures showed.

In the first two months of this year, the country registered three bird flu cases among fowl in the Tibet and Guizhou regions. All infected birds turned out to be unvaccinated, strengthening Jia's belief that an all-out vaccination among fowl was a necessary and powerful tool against the scourge.

He used the cases to caution the authorities to be relentless in their prevention efforts.

"In 2008, we may have more bird flu cases than last year," Jia warned.

"But they will be sporadic occurrences affecting small clusters of poultry if vaccination is put into place. Gone are the days when a single infection would kill hundreds of birds in one spot."