(chinadaily.com.cn)
Updated: 2005-11-06 18:02

A Chinese health worker vaccinates Monday a pigeon against bird flu in a house for pigeons hovering over the Quancheng Square each day in Ji'nan, East China's Shandong Province. China is on alert against the avian influenza. [Xinhua]

Since late 2003, the H5N1 strain of bird flu has ravaged poultry stocks and jumped from birds to humans. Most of the human deaths, all in Southeast Asian countries, have been linked to close contact with infected birds. But experts fear the virus could mutate into a form easily passed among humans and possibly spark a worldwide pandemic.

China has pledged it will be more open about reporting on bird flu.

2b-yuan fund earmarked to control bird flu

On October 2, Premier Wen Jiabao presided over a State Council meeting in Beijing, and decided to earmark a special fund of 2 billion yuan (US$246.6 million) out of the central budget for bird flu control.

"(We) must realize the severe and compelling situation in bird flu control, maintain high vigilance, and never let down our guard," said a statement from a State Council (China's cabinet) meeting.

The size of the fund exactly matched the budget allocation made in April 2003 to fight against the SARS (severe acute respiratory syndrome) contagion.

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