Authorities in Shenzhen will strengthen vigilance and take measures to prevent the spread of bird flu as winter approaches, the Daily Sunshine reported yesterday.

All live poultry will be slaughtered at designated places in farm produce markets, the report said. Residents are not allowed to take live poultry back home and all live poultry will be vaccinated.

Winter is the high season for bird flu. Since last winter, no bird flu epidemic has been recorded in the city, the Daily Sunshine report said. Only one person has been diagnosed with bird flu this year but the cause of the infection is still unknown.

Due to its unique geographic location, Shenzhen attracts nearly 100,000 wintering migratory birds. Around 80 percent of poultry is also supplied from outside the city, making it difficult to prevent the spread of the virulent disease.

At a meeting yesterday, Lai Zhiping, director general of the municipal bureau of agriculture, forestry and fishery, demanded that all live poultry in the city be vaccinated. "Years of experience tell us that compulsory vaccination is the most effective safeguard against bird flu," Lai said.

At present, there are more than 4,700 poultry farms in Shenzhen, raising a total of 4.24 million birds.

Lai also called for early reporting of abnormal bird deaths to allow speedy laboratory tests and disposal.

A four-tier epidemic detection network has been set up in the city, involving the municipal government, district governments, subdistrict offices and neighborhood committees, Lai said.

(Shenzhen Daily November 16, 2006)