China confident of containing bird flu (AFP) Updated: 2005-12-14 19:37
China is completely confident of being able to contain the bird flu epidemic
after recording 15 consecutive days without a new outbreak, the nation's chief
veterinary officer said.
Nurses cordon a
corridor inside a hospital as part of a drill on the outbreak of bird flu
in Hong Kong November 8, 2005. [Reuters] | "In the face of a very complicated epidemic situation, we are fully capable
of effectively containing the spread of bird flu in China," Jia Youling told a
briefing in Beijing on Wednesday. "We have full confidence and strong
determination."
Giving the latest update on the bird flu situation in China, Jia told
reporters there had been 30 outbreaks across 11 mainland provinces and regions
this year.
Twenty-six of those cases had occurred across nine provinces or regions since
October.
The outbreaks directly killed 151,200 birds and led to the culling of another
22,225,800, Jia said.
He said that, as of Tuesday, there had been no reported outbreaks for 15 days
in a row and quarantines in 23 affected areas had been lifted, giving some cause
for optimism.
However he warned there could be more outbreaks, especially during the
Chinese New Year or Spring Festival period starting in late January.
"There is still the possibility of sporadic outbreaks in winter this year or
spring next year and we are still facing great challenges of bird flu control,"
he said.
"During Spring Festival there will be greater consumption of domestic birds
and more frequent long-haul travel so there might be a possibility of new
outbreaks."
Jia said that, as part of the control measures, 6.85
billion domestic birds had been vaccinated this year -- more than 5 billion of
them since the start of October.
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