China intensifies human bird flu prevention (Xinhua) Updated: 2005-11-19 00:31
The Ministry of Agriculture issued Thursday an emergency plan to prevent and
control outbreak of human infection of bird flu and reduce damages the epidemic
brings to the health of the general public and the society.
According to the plan, in case of outbreak of human infection, local animal
epidemic prevention and monitoring institutions are required to take emergency
measures to monitor poultry living in areas within three kilometers of radius
from the site where the infected human beings live and places the infected human
has visited mostly recently. Meanwhile, samples should be taken from the dejecta
of wild poultry and polluted water in ponds to get immediate knowledge of
infection of domestic and wild poultry and pollution of local environment.
For the purpose of identifying the origin of the human infection, local
animal epidemic prevention and monitoring institutions are also asked to
cooperate with health departments to probe epidemiology and clinical symptoms of
concerned patient and to find out whether the patient has contacted poultry died
of disease, wild poultry or has traveled overseas.
Timely report and exchange of bird flu monitoring information are also urged
for the purpose of preventing and controlling bird flu spread.
The emergency plan has the stipulation on timely informing the general public
of the early warning of bird flu outbreaks and concrete measures to deal with
possible outbreak of bird flu and to prevent and control such cases.
Many other localities across the country have also stepped up efforts to
prevent possible occurrence of human infection of bird flu.
In Beijing, people entering and leaving residential courtyards are required
to show permits starting Thursday and local schools are required to report in
case students have a fever.
Local hospitals also moved to take challenge of possible human infection.
You'an Hospital, one of the hospitals designed to treat human cases of bird
flu, is fully prepared and can establish special wards with 60 beds within four
hours, said Liu Hui, a staff with the general office of the hospital.
The hospital has also organized special teams for treating human infection,
disinfection, report of epidemic situation, and supply of medical materials.
In fact, China has worked for prevention of human infection of bird flu and
for the purposing of reducing damages to people since the first outbreak of bird
flu was reported in the country in October.
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