China's Ministry of Health (MOH) on Monday delivered 300,000 guide books on human bird flu prevention and control to rural areas.

A total of 600,000 sets of pictures and booklets were also jointly delivered by the MOH and China Association for Science and Technology to rural areas along with the guide books.

These books tell in simple words what bird flu is, how it spreads and what symptoms to look like if a human gets infected, intended to help rural people raise their awareness and sense of self-protection against the disease, according to the MOH information office.

Vice Health Minister Jiang Zuojun attended Monday's delivery ceremony, noting that the early detection, reporting, quarantine and treatment are crucial to curbing the epidemic in China's rural regions.

The ministry will send more publicity materials to the rural regions, according to Jiang.

China has seen about 30 bird flu outbreaks in wild birds and poultry nationwide and three human infections, including two fatalities. The government has vowed to invest hugely in the prevention and control of the disease and strengthened its surveillance of people, especially in the vast rural areas.

(Xinhua News Agency December 6, 2005)