Authorities in Shenzhen will strengthen vigilance and take
measures to prevent the spread of bird flu as winter approaches,
the Daily Sunshine reported yesterday.
All live poultry will be slaughtered at designated places in
farm produce markets, the report said. Residents are not allowed to
take live poultry back home and all live poultry will be
vaccinated.
Winter is the high season for bird flu. Since last winter, no
bird flu epidemic has been recorded in the city, the Daily
Sunshine report said. Only one person has been diagnosed with
bird flu this year but the cause of the infection is still
unknown.
Due to its unique geographic location, Shenzhen attracts nearly
100,000 wintering migratory birds. Around 80 percent of poultry is
also supplied from outside the city, making it difficult to prevent
the spread of the virulent disease.
At a meeting yesterday, Lai Zhiping, director general of the
municipal bureau of agriculture, forestry and fishery, demanded
that all live poultry in the city be vaccinated. "Years of
experience tell us that compulsory vaccination is the most
effective safeguard against bird flu," Lai said.
At present, there are more than 4,700 poultry farms in Shenzhen,
raising a total of 4.24 million birds.
Lai also called for early reporting of abnormal bird deaths to
allow speedy laboratory tests and disposal.
A four-tier epidemic detection network has been set up in the
city, involving the municipal government, district governments,
subdistrict offices and neighborhood committees, Lai said.
(Shenzhen Daily November 16, 2006)