China Reports Outbreak of Bird Flu
- From: "Chim" <ChimS1@xxxxxxx>
- Date: 24 Oct 2005 22:01:53 -0700
SHANGHAI, China (Oct. 24) - China has reported an outbreak of bird flu
among poultry in the eastern province of Anhui, the Agriculture
Ministry and an international group for animal health said Tuesday.
A report to the World Organization for Animal Health, posted on the
group's Web site, said the outbreak was found among chickens and geese
on Oct. 20 in Anhui. It said 140,000 birds had been vaccinated and that
quarantines and other precautions were taken.
"Yes, there is an outbreak of bird flu in Anhui. I cannot give any
details now," said an official at the Agriculture Ministry, who gave
only his surname, Yu.
The news surfaced just days after another new outbreak of the disease
was found in the country's northern region of Inner Mongolia. Some
2,600 chickens and ducks were found dead at a breeding facility,
sparking fears that humans were at risk of being sickened.
Bird flu has killed more than 60 people in Asia since 2003. China has
not reported any human cases.
China's biggest cities have stepped up efforts to prevent the spread of
the disease, while government agencies have launched efforts to
coordinate preventive measures.
Experts have warned that the H5N1 bird flu virus could mutate and be
easily passed between humans, triggering a possible pandemic that could
kill millions around the globe.
Health officials say direct contact with poultry - slaughtering,
butchering and cooking preparations - or surfaces contaminated by their
droppings are the main cause of human infections. There is no evidence
that properly cooked chicken or eggs can sicken humans.
The disease has recently been reported in birds in Russia, Turkey and
Romania. On Sunday, the British government said a parrot had died of an
H5N1 strain that closely matched one identified in ducks in China
earlier this year.
Chinese officials were criticized for being slow and unwilling to
release information about their outbreak of SARS, or severe acute
respiratory syndrome, which was first reported in the country's south
in late 2002. It killed nearly 800 people worldwide before subsiding in
2003.
In comparison, they have been more aggressive in their handling of bird
flu outbreaks, although international experts are urging a rapid
response and strong preventative measures.
10/24/05 22:25 EDT
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