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Beijing will intensify prevention and control tactics for H7N9 bird flu, according to a conference of the city’s Center for Severe Animal Epidemic Prevention and Control on April 6.
That day, the Beijing Pigeon Association also released an urgent notice to suspend all pigeon releasing or racing activities.
Beijing prohibits live poultry transactions
All districts and counties in Beijing have been required to stop trading live poultry. The capital’s Administration for Industry and Commerce will inspect the operation of live poultry businesses with the city’s administration and law enforcement bureau.
Poultry farming in Beijing’s Dongcheng, Xicheng and Shijingshan district will be cleaned up.
Beijing has also prohibited public transportation vehicles from bringing live poultry or poultry products into the city. Investigations will be conducted in all the entrances of Beijing to avoid any potential spread of the virus.
Early in 2004, Beijing banned the trade of live poultry in and outside of markets at a particular scale. Shanghai has also suspended live poultry trade.
Beijing monitors birds
The Beijing Municipal Bureau of Landscape and Forestry and Beijing Park Management Center will keep a close watch over wild birds and birds raised in zoos as it is a peak time for bird migration.
The organizations will also report abnormalities and assist in collecting and testing samples.
In addition, the Beijing Water Authority will pay more attention to aquatic wild birds around rivers, lakes and reservoirs to ensure timely reporting of any potential cases. Citizens are advised to avoid interaction with wild birds.
Six measures against avian flu
The local government has put forward six measures to prevent and control avian flu. First, observation and report mechanisms of the animal epidemic should be improved.
Second, high-risk places, such as bird markets, should be secured and controlled.
Third, the agricultural authorities should intensify the monitoring of animal diseases.
Fourth, inspection and supervision should be ensured to prevent un-inspected birds from entering the market.
Fifth, the animal pandemic should be prevented from spreading across regions.
Finally, proper treatment of animals that have died from diseases should be carried out.
Five groups of officials from Beijing’s Bureau of Agriculture have been assigned to supervise and give guidance to different districts and counties in implementing these prevention and control measures.
Beijing bans pigeon releasing
Since H7N9 bird flu virus has been detected in pigeons in Shanghai, the Beijing Pigeons Association announced that members of the affiliated organizations should immediately stop pigeon racing competitions and activities. Its superior department will announce when such activities can be resumed.
In its announcement, the association said all members should reinforce the surveillance of their pigeons as well as protection measures for themselves.
Besides regular ventilation, regular cleaning and disinfection of their pigeons’ houses, the pigeon keepers are also required to vaccinate their pigeons. If any pigeons are found sick or dead for unknown reasons, the owners must contact local health authorities.
