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Human infection of bird flu not ruled out in Hunan cases
(chinadaily.com.cn)
Updated: 2005-11-06 18:02
A Chinese health
worker vaccinates Monday a pigeon against bird flu in a house for pigeons
hovering over the Quancheng Square each day in Ji'nan, East China's
Shandong Province. China is on alert against the avian influenza.
[Xinhua] |
Since late 2003, the H5N1 strain of bird flu has ravaged poultry stocks and
jumped from birds to humans. Most of the human deaths, all in Southeast Asian
countries, have been linked to close contact with infected birds. But experts
fear the virus could mutate into a form easily passed among humans and possibly
spark a worldwide pandemic.
China has pledged it will be more open about reporting on bird flu.
2b-yuan fund earmarked to control bird flu
On October 2, Premier Wen Jiabao presided over a State Council meeting in
Beijing, and decided to earmark a special fund of 2 billion yuan (US$246.6
million) out of the central budget for bird flu control.
"(We) must realize the severe and compelling situation in bird flu control,
maintain high vigilance, and never let down our guard," said a statement from a
State Council (China's cabinet) meeting.
The size of the fund exactly matched the budget allocation made in April 2003
to fight against the SARS (severe acute respiratory syndrome)
contagion.
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