China's fight against the avian/human pandemic influenza is facing a relatively big financial gap, said China's Chief Veterinary Jia Youling in Beijing Tuesday.

Jia made the remarks at a conference in Beijing aimed to collect global financial resources to stop the disease from further spreading among birds and from birds to humans.

As one of the earliest countries that reported bird flu cases, China has taken a number of forceful and effective measures in curbing the disease.

Yet China is now in need of financial, technical and material assistance from the international community to help it with the thorough prevention and control of bird flu.

The specific urgencies include the strengthening of grassroots capabilities to prevent and control bird flu, better quarantine measures at the customs, an improved system on monitoring migratory birds, more efficient research on and spread of vaccine, anti-viral drugs and fast-diagnosis technologies, more effective training of veterinaries and health workers and increased public awareness.

According to governmental statistics, 32 reported outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian flu (HPAI) in China in 2005 killed 154, 600birds. And 22.57 million birds were culled in a bid to wipe out the disease. The cordon placed on 31 epidemic regions have been lifted so far.

Jia admitted that China has achieved initial results in combating bird flu but the overall situation remains severe. "The problems in China's fight against bird flu are tough."

China has the largest number of poultry in the world, of which 60 percent are raised by separate households. Most rural and western areas have weak competence to prevent and control animal epidemics and poor medical service system.

Geological positions also add difficulty to the country's efforts curbing the disease with three out of the eight migratory routes for birds crossing its territory.

"Most population and most birds meant huge responsibilities and heavy tasks for China," said a WHO official who is unwilling to be named.

In November 2005, the Chinese State Council lined out 2 billion RMB (US 247.9 million) from the national budget preparatory fund as special money for the prevention and control of HPAI. Similar programs were also created at the local level.

The organizer said they hoped the two-day conference can draw enough financial resources to facilitate the combat over bird flu and offer a chance for all to further the exchanges and cooperation between countries and international organizations.

(Xinhua News Agency January 18, 2006)