China refutes bird flu human infection report ( 2004-02-03 16:45) (Chinadaily.com.cn)
A spokesman with China's Ministry of Health (MOH) Tuesday refuted a report in
Britain's Times that there were human infection of bird flu on
the Chinese mainland.
The report in Britain's Times on February 3 was groundless and
irresponsible, Xinhua News Agency quoted the spokesman as
saying.
"There is no single person infected by the bird flu on the Chinese mainland
so far," he said.
The spokesman said the MOH has strengthened the surveillance of
human-to-human transmission of the bird flu after the first case of the disease
was reported in South China's Guangxi Province.
Moreover, the ministry also started a technical program for inter-human
transmission surveillance and lab testing for medical workers nationwide, he
said.
MOH has formulated an urgent action plan to curb inter-human transmission, a
plan to carry out epidemiological investigation, and a guideline to prevent
transmission for people with close contact with sick poultry, he added.
So far, 588 people have been
taken under medical examination and observance for in close contact with sick poultry. None
of them was found to have the disease, he said.
Premier Urges Stricter Measures
Earlier on Monday, Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao urged
governments at all levels to make preventing the bird flu epidemic a
priority.
Premier Wen talks with local
residents. [newsphoto]
Bird flu prevention is a tough job for China given its vast size, and
backward conditions for poultry raising in most rural areas, Wen said.
The premier visited two affected regions in Shima Village of the city of
Ma'anshan, East China's Anhui Province, and Shifosi Town of Wuxue, Central
China's Hubei Province on January 31 and February 1.
Wen said officials at all levels should attach
greater importance to the disease and reinforce the prevention efforts.
China's central authorities have issued guidelines and a series of policies
on avian influenza prevention. Local departments should strictly follow and
implement them, he said.
Regions with reported bird flu cases should take decisive measures to firmly
control the spread of the disease and those with no reported cases should be
well prepared for steps to deflect bird flu.
The premier also urged the strict implementation of compensation for farmers
affected by bird flu.
Local authorities have been culling poultry within 3 kilometres of infected
farms, and enforcing compulsory vaccination of birds within 5 kilometres of the
infected areas.
Local governments should conduct public education campaigns about the disease
to avoid human infection of the disease, Wen said.
WHO Experts Come
Also on Monday, the China office of the World Health Organization
confirmed the arrival of two experts from the United Nations agency in
Beijing to assist China's campaign against the avian influenza.
Office spokesman Roy Wadia said: "The WHO is in the process of identifying
more international experts across a range of disciplines as to form a joint
mission with the Chinese side."
He told China Daily the joint mission will be established in a couple of days
and will co-operate with Chinese ministries of health and
agriculture.
