Northeast China's Heilongjiang Province has ordered local departments concerned to keep a close watch over migratory birds as two new bird flu outbreaks had been reported in neighboring Republic of Korea (ROK) late last month.

The provincial government required in an emergency circular that all local monitoring stations for animal epidemic increase surveillance frequencies, especially in such places as waterfowl and live birds markets and habitats of migratory birds.

All customs and entry-exit quarantine departments were told to enhance supervision and inspection of cargoes, visitors and their belongings from ROK. Birds and related products imported from ROK must be immediately stopped and sealed up, the circular said.

New bird flu outbreaks were reported at two poultry farms late last month in the Iksan city, 230 km south of Seoul, and the local government has slaughtered hundreds of thousands of poultry.

ROK and northeastern Chinese regions are both on the migration route of migratory birds from East Asia to Australia.

(Xinhua News Agency December 4, 2006)