Bird flu spreads further in China

cctv.com 02-04-2004 09:19

In China, a suspected outbreak of avian influenza among poultry in the southern province of Guangdong has been confirmed as the deadly H5N1 strain. The Ministry of Agriculture has also reported two new provinces suspected to have been hit by bird flu. But for now there haven't been any human infections on the Chinese mainland.

This is China's new frontline in the battle against bird flu.

In Guangdong's Chao'an County, local government says it has enforced sweeping fowl slaughter and quarantine measures since a suspected bird flu outbreak was reported there four days ago.

Now, the Ministry of Agriculture, which has confirmed the outbreak to the World Health Organization, is sending experts to Guangdong to help fight the epidemic.

And in the southern city of Shenzhen, health authorities are investigating the deaths of black swans.

Since the neighboring Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region reported the first bird flu outbreak, the Chinese mainland now has four confirmed outbreaks.

And the suspected outbreaks in the northern provinces of Gansu and Shaanxi bring to at least 13 the number of regions that have suspected bird flu in their fowls.

Editor:Xiao  Source:CCTV.com