Gov´t intensifies efforts to curb bird flu

WATCH VIDEO

Source: CCTV.com | 01-13-2009 10:24

Click for more news in China Today>>

The health ministry says China has no evidence to suggest that the bird flu virus has mutated into a form which can be transmitted from person to person. It says Beijing's prevention measures are effective to curb the spread of bird flu.

As the Spring Festival draws near, efforts to control and  prevent bird flu have been intensified, after a woman died  from the virus last week.

As the Spring Festival draws near, efforts to control and prevent bird flu have been intensified, after a woman died from the virus last week.

This human case of the disease was detected before any obvious signs of an outbreak among birds, so health authority are warning people to avoid poultry.

Mao Qun'an, spokesman of The Health Ministry, said, "Close contact between people and poultry is a leading factor in the transmission of the virus to humans. So we remind the public to reduce exposure to poultry, particularly dead ones."

200 people who had contact with the dead woman have been given a clean bill of health and no evidence has been found to suggest bird flu can be transmitted from one person to another.

Five measures have been announced to prevent bird flu spreading among poultry markets, including establishing an emergency mechanism, signing responsibility contracts with poultry sellers, cracking down illegal slaughterhouses, opening a complaint hotline and inspecting poultry products.

Editor:Zhang Ning