China: Eleven of China's 31 provinces have announced confirmed or suspected outbreaks of avian influenza.
China has been stunned by the spread of bird flu across its heavily populated southern and central provinces. In a repeat of measures introduced during the Sars crisis, roadblocks have been put in place in many provinces and vehicles are being disinfected by police and soldiers in white chemical-resistant suits.
Vice-Prime Minister Hui Liangyu, head of the National Bird Flu Prevention Headquarters set up quickly by Beijing to cope with the outbreak, warned officials in unaffected regions to be on high alert against the deadly disease. People who have direct contacts with birds should be well protected, he said, to prevent the virus from spreading to humans.
Beijing authorities meanwhile are conducting 24-hour checks at all air, road and railway points that connect the capital to areas infected by bird flu. Markets have been ordered to quit on-site slaughter and the processing of poultry.
Mr Hui was the latest government leader to rally officials and health authorities, urging local governments yesterday to double their efforts against the spread of bird flu virus. He instructed governors to commit more funds to compensate hard-pressed poultry farmers who have had their birds culled.
The vice-prime minister promised that the government's "bird flu control strategy" would be effective. It would prioritise poultry workers and retailers, he explained to reporters. Their immunity levels would be examined regularly by health workers, he said. Migrant workers and students returning to cities from their hometowns after the spring festival holidays would also face inspections at railways stations and airports.
At least one Chinese medical expert has questioned World Health Organisation advice that bird flu may pass between humans.
"There is so far no direct evidence to back the claim. There's no need for panic," said an infectious diseases expert, Dr Lu Haodong, from Beijing's Ditan Hospital.