CHINA> Regional
BJ wipes out pests around Tian'anmen before holiday
(Xinhua)
Updated: 2009-09-02 21:38

BEIJING: Beijing is wiping out mosquitoes, flies, rats and cockroaches around the Tian'anmen square to make sure participants of the 60th National Day celebrations are free from epidemics and bites.

Related readings:
BJ wipes out pests around Tian'anmen before holiday China’s National Day celebrated with fireworks
BJ wipes out pests around Tian'anmen before holiday 5 types of missiles to debut on National Day
BJ wipes out pests around Tian'anmen before holiday Armed policemen mobilized to protect National Day parade
BJ wipes out pests around Tian'anmen before holiday Greenhouse flowers for China's National Day

BJ wipes out pests around Tian'anmen before holiday China concludes National Day celebration rehearsal

The Beijing Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) carried out extermination sweeps on August 18, 21, 24 and 28 - and plans to do it again on September 4, 11 and 25 - around Tian'anmen Square and adjacent streets, including the Tian'anmen Rostrum and the Memorial Hall of Chairman Mao, said Zeng Xiaofan, a CDC doctor in charge of the campaigns.

The campaigns, all at night to avoid affecting the public, aim to prevent epidemics and exterminate the four pests, especially rats and mosquitoes.

Rats could eat electric cables and mosquitoes could bite and annoy people gathering in the square on October 1 to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the founding of new China, Zeng said.

China will hold a grand gathering at the Tian'anmen Square on October 1 when Chinese President Hu Jintao will give a keynote speech. A military parade and mass pageantry will follow the gathering and pass through the Chang'an Avenue.