China: Spending two billion yuan of bird flu

Health workers incinerate sick poultry in Yongzhou (Hunan)

Yesterday, Chinese State Council officials said China would spend 2 billion yuan (more than 246 million dollars) on bird flu prevention programs that are at risk of spreading to the country. . On the same day, China confirmed a ban on poultry imports from 14 countries.

Speaking on the sidelines of a Conference on Avian Influenza Prevention in Beijing, a member of the State Council (Chinese government) said the Chinese government had decided to extract 2 billion yuan in the annual budget. now to spend on the prevention of bird flu.

The meeting also confirmed that it will restart the national avian flu prevention command to prevent disease outbreaks. Other members said China would resolutely apply strict measures, limiting 60% of poultry production in farms.

China's Agriculture Deputy Minister Doan Thanh Kiet said China has issued a four-level signal to announce the dangerous situation of bird flu: Red warning "Very serious", Orange "Serious" warning , Yellow warning "Relatively serious" and Blue warning "Normal".

China currently accounts for 37% of the total number of birds and birds in the world, and is the 8th largest country on the main flight path of birds.

On the same day, Xinhua announced the ban on poultry imports from 14 countries: Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia, Cambodia, Japan, North Korea, Romania, Croatia, Kazakhstan, South Africa, Mongolia, Turkey, Russia and Switzerland. The ban was issued October 28, according to the Chinese Ministry of Commerce website on November 1, 2005. The ban aims to prevent bird flu infection, protect human health and ensure Chinese livestock. The ban comes into effect until a new decision is made.

LINH LINH (According to Xinhua)