Guangdong has discussed measures to prevent new human
infections of the avian flu in the wake of Sunday's confirmation of
the death of a 32-year-old man in the South China province.
The victim, surnamed Lao, developed symptoms of fever and
pneumonia on February 22. He had been staying near a live poultry
market while carrying out surveys of the site, according to an
official statement.
The provincial government said that it has implemented measures
to boost efforts to inoculate all poultry and fowl in the province,
and to enhance supervision over markets, ensuring that only
quarantined birds are allowed in.
In addition, more money will be allocated to prevention and
control, disinfecting markets, and increasing publicity
efforts.
No other human cases of bird flu have been detected in
Guangzhou, Minister of Health Gao
Qiang said yesterday.
He also reiterated that there is, to date, no evidence of
human-to-human transmission of the virus in China.
The Hong Kong government suspended the import of live poultry
from neighboring Guangdong province on Sunday night.
China had previously reported 14 human cases of bird flu, eight
of which resulted in death.
(Xinhua News Agency and China Daily March 6, 2006)