No single person has been infected by the bird flu in the
Chinese mainland so far, said Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman
Zhang Qiyue Tuesday at a regular press conference.
Zhang refuted a report that there were people infected with the
widespread avian influenza in the Chinese mainland, and said the
report was "groundless."
Zhang said China was making full efforts to fight against the
bird flu, and the international community should enhance
cooperation in the campaign.
Zhang expressed her hope that journalists would contribute to an
early resolution of the issue, instead of propagating some false
and irresponsible information.
Journalists should take a scientific attitude towards the
epidemic, and make objective and all-around reports on China's
efforts to fight against the disease, she added.
The Chinese government has attached great importance to curbing
the outbreak of bird flu in some regions of China, and President Hu
Jintao and Premier Wen Jiabao have made instructions on the issue,
Zhang said, adding that Premier Wen even personally inspected bird
flu-hit regions in central China's provinces of Anhui and
Hubei.
China treats the bird flu not only as an issue concerning
people's health but also as a challenge to China's economic and
social development, and all related departments are working hard to
fight the epidemic with the spirit of being responsible for the
people.?
(Xinhua News Agency February 3, 2004)