Shenzhen's municipal inspection and quarantine authorities have
pledged to thoroughly inspect 30 local poultry farms, which supply
frozen birds to Hong Kong on a regular basis, after a human bird
flu case was confirmed Sunday in the neighboring city of Guangzhou,
the Daily Sunshine reported Tuesday.
No bird flu case has been reported in Shenzhen so far, said
Shenzhen Vice Mayor Liu Yingli at a meeting Monday. He however
urged quarantine departments to stay on high alert against the
virus and increase preventive measures.
The mass inspection will address the vaccination, hygiene and
health of birds on the farms, the Daily Sunshine quoted a
quarantine official as saying yesterday.
The inspection and quarantine bureau will also call a meeting of
bird farmers and processed chicken suppliers to urge them to
vaccinate all birds, keep a close watch on the health of their
employees, and report any suspected case of the avian flu. The bird
suppliers are required to submit a report of the health of their
employees on a weekly basis.
The official said the bureau is planning to step up body
temperature checks at the checkpoints between Shenzhen and Hong
Kong to catch possible flu patients.
The 32-year-old bird flu victim died Thursday in Guangzhou was
confirmed Sunday as the ninth fatality to the H5N1 virus on the
mainland.
All birds in Shenzhen were vaccinated against the bird flu in
October last year, Liu said, who then ordered renewed vaccination
for some of the birds brought in from other places after the Spring
Festival.
The vice mayor also asked the five wholesale bird markets in the
city to be disinfected and examined regularly. “All birds sold in
the markets should have the three certificates proving they are
vaccinated, disinfected and examined,” the mayor said.
A total of 19 human bird flu monitoring stations have been set
up in the city, and Shenzhen has stockpiled flu vaccines, drugs and
disinfectants, the Shenzhen Special Zone Daily said
yesterday.
(Shenzhen Daily March 9, 2006)