China formally launches prevention and control program on major
animal epidemics, such as bird flu, on Saturday.
The program is designed to ensure effective control on the
country's major animal epidemics through a series of methods, such
as enhancing immunity and epidemic monitoring, establishing an
animal labeling system and epidemic back-tracking system.
China's prevention and control work on major animal epidemics
now puts on more emphasis on prevention rather than emergency
response after the outbreak and the institutionalization of the
control regime, Yin Chengjie, vice agriculture minister, said at
the launching ceremony.
Spring is the peak incidence season of major animal epidemics,
Yin said, adding that China should enforce the following seven
measures:
Strengthening disinfecting and combines disinfecting with
culling, enhancing monitoring on major animal epidemics and
improving abilities in forecasting and early warning.
Enhancing grassroots-level infrastructure development and
promoting reforms of veterinary system.
Strengthening quarantine regulating as well as enforcement of
animal epidemic prevention laws and regulations.
Intensifying evaluation of animal sanitary conditions and
speeding up the development of animal epidemics-free zones.
Strengthening the animal-labeling and epidemic back-tracking
systems, and promoting full-scaled back-tracking management of
animals and animal products.
Enhancing the supervision of veterinary drugs concerning their
production, sales and use.
(Xinhua News Agency March 11, 2007)