Two new H5N1 avian influenza outbreaks, the twelfth and
thirteenth amongst poultry in China since October 19, were
confirmed yesterday, while WHO experts emphasized the importance of
public awareness in preventing and controlling further human
infections.
The virus is believed to have killed 662 farm birds in Xiaonan
District, Xiaogan City in the central province of Hubei on November
5, and 32 chickens in Hotan Prefecture of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous
Region on November 10, the Ministry of Agriculture said in a
statement last night.
In Xinjiang, quarantine workers detected sick chickens at a
local market and traced the source only to find that dozens of
poultry had already been infected, according to the ministry.
Both areas have implemented contingency measures, including
culls of 86,215 birds in Xinjiang and 2,722 in Hubei within 3
kilometers of outbreak sites.
It is Xinjiang's third outbreak this month, and Hubei's
second.
WHO officials completing a visit to central China's Hunan
Province, where one of two confirmed human cases plus another two
possible took place, also said yesterday that the general public
should be aware of symptoms to ensure early reporting of further
suspected human infections.
"Public education and awareness is very important," Julie Hall,
WHO's epidemic alert and response coordinator in China, told Xinhua
News Agency in Changsha, the provincial capital.
She said rapid reporting was essential so that infections could
be reduced and areas disinfected if a bird flu outbreak
occurred.
Other key areas that need strengthening include trying to reduce
panic and encouraging people to report and seek healthcare if they
have contact with sick poultry, she said.
She said the WHO will continue to assist China in curbing
outbreaks.
(Xinhua News Agency November 18, 2005)