Three police dogs are on patrol every day at the Pudong International Airport to sniff luggage as Shanghai increases surveillance against a possible outbreak of bird flu in the city.

      BEIJING, Oct. 22 -- Shanghai is stepping up observation of migratory birds, putting more police dogs on patrol at airports to sniff luggage, sterilizing soles of all passengers entering the port by sea, land and air and improving supervision of poultry markets and restaurants to prevent a possible spread of bird flu in Shanghai.

    Each year, millions of wild birds stop along Shanghai's coastal wetlands, which stretch for more than 500 kilometers, during their southern migration. Birds are currently in the middle of their migration period.

    "Shanghai is a major stop-over spot for migratory birds on the Asia-Pacific route during their annual migration. At least 1 million wild birds, of some 200 species, stop by Shanghai every year during the migration," said Xie Yimin of the city's Wild Animal Protection Station.

    The current migration, which will take birds as far south as Australia and New Zealand, will see birds stopping over in the city until early next month, according to local ornithologists, who have kept busy this year observing and inspecting migratory bird flocks.

    "More experts and workers have been dispatched to work at the 14 migratory observation stations across the city to look for any abnormal situations, such as large number of dead or sick birds," Xie said.

    The bird observation stations were set up early this year.

    Officials have also set up an inspection station at the Jiangyin Road Flower and Bird Market, the city's largest, since wild birds are routinely captured and sold as pets at such markets - an act that is forbidden.

    Meanwhile, authorities are also beefing up inspections of underground wild bird transactions.

    "Last year, we seized 178 large bird-capturing nets set up around local wet lands. The unattended bird nets have small holes and could easily catch large numbers of migratory birds. The hunters were difficult to track down, however," said Xie.

    Officials destroyed more than 30 temporary sheds used by bird hunters.

    The wild birds, such as wild ducks, are regarded as a delicacy in China and often sold illegally to restaurants.

    "We are closely supervising restaurants located in and near the local wet lands as well as making efforts to crack down on illegal bird hunters," Xie said.

    Local entry-exit inspection and quarantine authorities are also taking steps to keep illegal imported poultry products out of the city.

    At the Pudong International Airport, more dogs are being used to sniff the luggage of travelers arriving in the city from abroad.

    Quarantine authorities have also destroyed and banned imports of poultry products from bird-flu-stricken countries and regions.

    Poultry and other animal products from non-bird-flu-stricken areas are now also under strict scrutiny.

    Officials said in the past nine months, Shanghai intercepted 35,425 kilograms of poultry products from bird-flu-stricken areas.

    Experts said city residents can take steps to protect themselves from the bird flu.

    "Poultry should be completely cooked before it is eaten. It's also important to follow good sanitation rules every day," said Tang Sixian, a local ornithologist.

    While frequent reports of bird flu cases had lately appeared in several European countries, no humans have caught the disease in China so far.

    China's latest outbreak of the virulent H5N1 bird flu strain among fowl was reported this week in Inner Mongolia region, which is in the country's north.

    According to Xinhua news agency, 21 people who participated in the killing and transport of dead birds were under medical observation and have been given flu vaccinations in Inner Mongolia, where 2,600 chickens and ducks were reported dead this week.

    A thousand face masks and 100 kilograms of disinfectant have been distributed in Tengjiaying, a village near Hohhot, the capital, where the dead birds were found.

    "All medical organizations in Hohhot are well prepared for possible outbreak of human cases," Xinhua said. "Hospitals have been designated for that purpose. If there is an outbreak, emergency medical services will be offered."

    (Source: Shanghai Daily news)