China reports two human bird-flu cases
(Xinhua/AP)
Updated: 2005-11-16 21:16

"It is not surprising to see human case of bird flu reported inChina," he said.

However, "while any 'first' is, of course, symbolic, in purely medical and scientific terms this particular instance is more of areiteration and continuation of the existing bird flu scenario in this part of the world than something that is completely 'new'", he said.

It also indicates the ongoing challenge countries face in raising public awareness -- especially at the rural, backyard farmers' level -- of the dangers posed by avian flu, Wadia said.

As for the third pneumonia case in Hunan reported previously, aschoolteacher, Wadia said, WHO experts have not ruled him out of bird flu infection. "More tests need to be done."

Apart from the WHO, the ministry has also reported the two confirmed human cases and one suspected case to related authorities in Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan, as well as some countries.

Birds fly as the morning sun rises over Beijing. Preliminary tests show a boy in central China contracted bird flu, health authorities said, in what would be the first confirmed human infection of the virus. [AFP]

Experts are especially worried about the potential for bird flu to spread and mutate in China because of its vast poultry flocks and their close contact with people. It also is a major migration route for wild fowl, which experts say might be spreading the virus.

China has reported 11 outbreaks in chickens and ducks over the past month nationwide, prompting authorities to destroy millions of birds in an effort to contain the virus. The government also announced an ambitious effort Tuesday to vaccinate all the country's more than 14 billion farm birds.

Also Wednesday, the State Council, which is China's Cabinet, discussed enacting regulations on bird flu prevention, epidemic monitoring and emergency contingency plans, state television said.

The council also said it would offer tax breaks and subsidies to help counter the effects of bird flu outbreaks.