China's Ministry of Railways started an around-the-clock bird
flu reporting system Tuesday, with daily reports to the
ministry.
All transportation sectors across China are coordinating to stop
the spread of bird flu via vehicles. In bird-flu-affected Wugang
City, Hunan Province, the railway station requires all passengers
to submit to baggage checks.
According to the Ministry of Railways, only animals -- including
poultry -- with quarantine certification may be transported by
rail. Wugang implemented this requirement as early as Jan. 31.
China has taken measures to prevent bird flu entering from
neighboring countries and regions. All transnational vessels,
planes and trains must undergo inspection, and poultry and relevant
products found on these vehicles must be sealed before they enter
China.
In south China's Hainan Province, over 30 vessels from
bird-flu-affected Vietnam received quarantine inspection in
January, and more than 20 live chickens were inoculated against the
disease. The island province also strengthened supervision of
flights from the Republic of Korea, Japan and Vietnam.
Similar steps are being taken in China's national road traffic.
All vehicles passing through Wugang and other infected cities must
register and undergo inspection.
In Chongqing, a metropolis in western China, transportation of
poultry on open lorries and buses was forbidden on Jan. 31.
In Beijing, the city's largest road passenger transport company
has resumed daily disinfection for all of its vehicles and bus
stations. Buses coming from bird-flu-contaminated areas are subject
to strict disinfectant measures.
As soon as bird flu appeared on the mainland of China in
January, the Chinese government started to take a series of
measures to combat the epidemic, and also conducted education
nationwide on bird flu prevention.
So far, there has been no case of a human contracting bird flu
in China.
(Xinhua News Agency February 3, 2004)