Chinese Authorities Take Further Steps to Prevent Spread of Avian Flu

December 5, 2005

Central government authorities have undertaken several measures to prevent the spread of avian flu in poultry stocks:

  • On November 19, the United States and Chinese governments issued a joint statement which pledged cooperation at the bilateral, regional and global levels in order to prevent and respond to the spread of avian flu, according to the U.S. Department of State Web site. At the bilateral level, the health and agriculture ministries of the two countries pledged:
    • To cooperate on the research and production of influenza vaccines for humans and animals.
    • To cooperate on the development and improvement of surveillance and rapid response capacities.
    • To share strategies for pandemic influenza planning.

    At the international level, the two governments pledged to support the United Nations' efforts against avian flu, particularly the efforts of the World Health Organization, the U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization, and the World Organization for Animal Health. At the regional level, the two countries pledged to actively support and join cooperative efforts against avian flu in the Asia-Pacific region.

  • On November 2, the Ministry of Agriculture, together with the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection, and Quarantine, met in Beijing with officials from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Representatives from both countries agreed to increase technical cooperation and information exchanges, according to an Associated Press report.
  • Also on November 2, the State Council appropriated 2 billion yuan for the establishment of an avian flu prevention fund, proposed the creation of a nationwide avian flu command center, and recommended the development of an epidemic information reporting system to strengthen public awareness, reported a November 3 article in the Beijing News.
  • On November 1, the Ministry of Agriculture announced an emergency management plan for avian flu, according to a November 2 report in the People's Procuratorate Daily. The plan proposes a color-coded warning system, and a reporting system in line with the Law on the Prevention of Animal Epidemics, among other recommendations.