Vice Premier Wen Jiabao has urged the formation of a system to prevent epidemics among animals and to protect human health.
Wen said the system is needed because of the outbreaks of animal diseases in some foreign countries.
According to Wen, the government has taken a series of effective preventive measures.
It includes a ban on the import of meat from affected countries, and the setting-up of monitoring networks on epidemics across the country.
Wen announced the following measures will be adopted:
--Conducting compulsory inoculation and keeping a file on the immunization of animals;
--Establishing a strict epidemic monitoring system;
--Making emergency-control plans for major outbreaks of animal epidemics and making available funds, vaccines, medicine and other necessary materials to fight the epidemics;
--Strengthening quarantines of imported animals;
--Tightening market control to make sure all animals butchered have been quarantined;
--Investing more in technology and facilities for epidemic prevention;
--Seriously implementing all laws and regulations concerning the issue.
(Xinhua 04/10/2001)
