Health

China Implements Mandatory Daily Bird Flu Reporting

by Karenke4 | January 22, 2009 at 01:28 pm

161 views | 12 Recommendations | 4 comments

In an effort to prevent the potentially fatal outbreak of bird flu, China has instituted a daily bird flu reporting system. Provincial departments are now required to report on the status of their jurisdictions, reporting any new bird flu cases and updating on the status of patients and investigations.

Four people have been infected with the virus in the last month, and three of whom have died.

The Agriculture Ministry has ordered increased monitoring and management of live poultry markets, especially before next week's Lunar New Year holiday, when people come into more contact with chickens and ducks when preparing celebratory meals.

The Health Ministry said on Wednesday that there was no evidence of a large-scale outbreak of bird flu despite the new cases. It said the illnesses were isolated, unrelated and did not show significant mutations of the H5N1 virus.

The WHO has confirmed 249 deaths from the H5N1 virus since it was first reported in 2003. Efforts to control the virus have been successful over the years, but experts have agreed that a large scale outbreak could be catastrophic.

While the disease remains hard for humans to catch, scientists have warned if outbreaks among poultry are not controlled, the virus may mutate into a form more easily passed between people, possibly triggering a pandemic that could kill millions worldwide.

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Yuliya Talmazan

at 13:55 on January 22nd, 2009

I am surprised they did not implement it earlier, considering the probability of a bird flu epidemic starting in China.

GoofyG28

at 19:07 on January 22nd, 2009

Despite the bird flu scare in Hong Kong, there was plenty of delicious chicken to go around at my family's pot luck dinner party. (January 2009)

GoofyG28 has contributed a photo to this story.

Nigel Thomas (not verified)

at 03:26 on January 23rd, 2009

Good on the Chinese government. We need to keep pandemic preparedness at the forefront of every one's mind. It won't go away so better start preparing.

For free references, resources and to join their free pandemic preparedness email eCourse program, go to Bird Flu Manual Online ( http://www.birdflu-manual.com ) or, if you need more comprehensive tutorials, tools and templates, consider Bird Flu D-I-Y eManual for your pandemic preparedness ( http://www.birdflu-manual.com/pandemic-preparedness.htm ).