The quarantine authorities in Shenzhen, the city bordering Hong
Kong, have enhanced quarantine measures to assure bird flu-free
supply of poultry for Hong Kong.
Bird flu cases were reported in the Chinese mainland on Tuesday
in south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region and in central
provinces of Hunan and Hubei.
The quarantine authorities of Shenzhen, in southern Guangdong
Province, stepped up bird flu control efforts in farms that were
licensed to supply poultry for Hong Kong markets, enforcing most
strict vaccination, field inspection and test of poultry to be
exported to Hong Kong.
So far there were no bird flu cases reported in Hong Kong, where
the majority of poultry supply was from the Chinese mainland.
According to officials with the quarantine authorities of
Shenzhen, the number of poultry exported to Hong Kong rose 47
percent before the Spring Festival, or surpassing 1 million
head.
After the bird flu reports in the mainland, the authorities
tightened vaccination, requiring that chicken seven to 10 days old
should be vaccinated the first time and those 30 to 35 days old
should be vaccinated once more.
In addition, the quarantine authorities and customs suspended to
allow poultry and poultry products from Guangxi, Hunan and Hubei to
be exported via Shenzhen.
(Xinhua News Agency January 31, 2004)