Bird flu eases as prevention efforts continue
- Details
- Category: Governmental News
- Published: Tuesday, 11 February 2014 16:39
No new human cases of the H7N9 bird flu have been reported in Ningbo for 10 consecutive days since January 30, which proved the current epidemic prevention and control work effective, said local health authorities.
Since the city’s first human case of infection with H7N9 bird flu was reported on January 10, the municipal government has attached great importance to the epidemic and urged all related departments at all levels to step up the prevention and control work and ensure the public health and safety. A total of 15 departments and units including the publicity, health, agriculture, forestry, industry and commerce, trade, and urban management jointly established a prevention and control system against H7N9 avian influenza. The system helps to strengthen and facilitate communication and reporting with health departments at provincial, municipal and county levels and promote effective prevention and control work.
Meanwhile, local agriculture, commerce, trade, and forestry watchdogs stepped up their efforts on bird flu prevention and control. The agricultural sector has started emergency monitoring over local poultry farms and live poultry markets since January 10. The food safety watchdog has organized 4,737 staff members to conduct 5,051 inspections over local food markets. Food sellers are also urged to carry out cleaning and disinfection and halt poultry trading as required.
The city suspended live poultry trading in its urban districts on January 26. A total of 213 live poultry markets, which involves 630 live poultry dealers, have been shut down before February 7.
High attention is still deserved as human affections with H7N9 bird flu are going on in surrounding cities and provinces, said Dong Hongjun, deputy director of Ningbo Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) last Sunday. It is unlikely to halt all live poultry trading in suburban and rural markets and totally eliminate avian influenza virus. The city is still possible to see more cases of H7N9 human infections as the heavy traffic surges after the spring Festival. However, a large-scale H7N9 epidemic still remains unlikely because there was no evidence the H7N9 virus spread between humans and thus there was no need for panic.
Health experts advises the public to take measures to ward off infection, including washing hands, taking more exercises, wearing facial masks and avoiding live poultry.
