Chinese Vice Premier Hui Liangyu on Tuesday urged related
departments to take more comprehensive and intensified measures to
curb the outbreak of bird
flu.
Hui made the call at a meeting of the National Bird Flu
Prevention Headquarters under the State Council.
Hui, also director-general of the headquarters, highlighted the
importance of communication and cooperation between localities and
related departments, and outlined the key tasks in fighting the
epidemic.
One of the tasks is to take immediate, effective surveillance,
quarantine and disinfection steps to stop the epidemic
spreading.
The non-affected areas must keep on high alert, and set up an
overall search and monitoring network, he said.
He emphasized the medical examination and protection of the
quarantine and disinfection teams, stressing that people must be
protected from being infected by the deadly virus.
Hui called for more funds and compensation at state and local
levels to help farmers and enterprises who have to slaughter
poultry or close down their businesses. Governments at all levels
must standardize the production and trade of poultry products and
strengthen quarantine for fowl imports and exports as well, he
said.
He also urged the speeding up of scientific research into the
virus, and the introduction of more advanced prevention and control
techniques. And more information on the prevention and control of
bird flu should be provided to the public, he noted.
(Xinhua News Agency February 4, 2004)