China bans chicken imports from bird flu-hit countries

cctv.com 01-17-2004 09:29

China has banned all chicken imports from Vietnam, Japan and South Korea to prevent any potential spread of the "bird flu". The Chinese Health Ministry also issued an urgent notice for vigilance regarding the disease.

The ban on bird imports extends from chickens to chicken eggs, as well as to feathers from Japan, South Korea, and Vietnam. Millions of chickens have been killed by the disease so far in these countries.

Shen Zhenzhao, Dept. Director of Ministry of Agriculture, said, "To ensure the safety of our country's animal husbandry, China has banned all birds imports from bird flu-hit countries. As for those birds that arrived at China's ports ... they have to be returned or destroyed."

Meanwhile, the Chinese government has also planned to disinfect its own chicken farms. Vehicles used to transport birds will be sterilized. And sewage and wastewater from chicken farms will also be treated.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Kong Quan said, "As an agricultural country, China always attaches importance to this kind of disease. And we have already taken some effective measures to prevent it from coming to China -- to prevent an epidemic inside China."

Meanwhile, China also urges stepping quarantining people from regions hit by bird flu.

In Taiwan, where an outbreak took place earlier this month, health officials have begun the slaughter of 20,000 chickens. The affected farm has also been quarantined and disinfected.

Editor:Zhang  Source:CCTV.com