Guiyang bans bird trading to prevent epidemic
(Xinhua)
Updated: 2005-12-04 11:05

Guiyang, capital of southwest China's Guizhou Province, has suspended bird trading amid enhanced efforts to prevent bird flu, local authorities said.

Local residents who raise birds or poultry were told to carry out such precautionary measures as regular disinfection for bird cages, and they were also required to inject bird flu bacterin for their birds at the local health departments.

The move was launched jointly by the local forestry, industry, commerce, and agriculture departments.

Flocks of birds have migrated here to pass winter from freezing northern China regions.

Earlier, Beijing and Shanghai took similar moves to prevent bird flu.

Beijing suspended poultry trading in all its 168 markets as of November 7 and Shanghai shut down all bird markets starting from November 30.

So far, China has reported about 30 outbreaks of bird flu in 11 provinces and regions and confirmed three human cases of bird flu.