BEIJING, Oct. 28 (Xinhuanet) -- China has developed a series of vaccines, including inactivated vaccine against H5N2 AI, in a bid to control the fatal bird flu, Jia Youling, chief veterinary officer said Friday at a press conference.

Jia Youling, chief veterinary officer, at the press conference

    The application of these vaccines, which also include the recombined inactivated vaccine against H5N1, recombined flow pox vector live vaccine against H5, which are respectively for chicken, waterflow and broiler, has effectively reduced the cost of immunization and satisfied the need of various poultry, Jia noted.

    He added that newly developed recombined Newcastle Disease vector live vaccine against AI is now under commercialization.

    "This new vaccine is cheaper and easy to use," Jia said, noting that its application will greatly improve the result of immunization against AI.

    The policy made by the Ministry of Agriculture to stamp out the poultry within three km around the affected spot has been well implemented nationwide, he said.

    Moreover, the official said that the Ministry of Agriculture has made a timely report to the public upon any epidemic outbreaks based on the principle of "accuracy, openness and transparency."

    Border to be closed in case human infection occurs

    China will decide whether or not to close its border in line with regulations of the World Health Organization (WHO) and international practice in case human infection of bird flu occurs.

    The bird flu epidemic in the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, Hunan and Anhui provinces have been brought under control, and there is no human infected with H5N1 virus yet, said Chen Xianyi with the Ministry of Health (MOH) at the news conference.

    If a human infection case is found, he or she will be immediately put in quarantine and under medical observation while the treatment is carried out so as to protect other people, said Chen, director of the contingency office of MOH.

    No abnormal human symptoms in bird flu-hit Hunan

    The people who have had close contact with the two patients afflicted with pneumonia in bird flu-hit Hunan Province have developed no abnormal symptoms, said Chen Xianyi, director of the contingency office of the Ministry of Health (MOH).

    Hunan health authorities have strengthened surveillance of the bird flu, Chen said.

    Experts from the MOH have arrived in Hunan to guide the prevention and control efforts.

    A 12-year-old girl in a village of Hunan died of severe pneumonia recently. Her younger brother has been hospitalized for pneumonia as well. Investigation shows that both ate chicken which had died of bird flu. Laboratory tests of their blood samples turned out negative for the H5N1 virus.

    The boy's body temperature has been normal for eight consecutive days and he is recovering, according to Chen.

    "The people who have had close contact with the two, including the villagers, medical staff at various levels have exhibited no abnormal symptoms so far," Chen said, noting that the health authorities are searching for possible infections on a larger scale.

    China proved to be frank, timely and transparent in reporting    

    China has been frank, timely and transparent in bird flu reporting, said Jia.

    When some migratory birds in northwest China's Qinghai Province were confirmed to be hit by bird flu last June, China reported the epidemic situation as soon as possible, Jia said.

    China had invited officials from the World Health Organization and the UN Food and Agriculture Organization to the affected areas, where they were free to inquire local farmers about the epidemic situation, he said.

    Afterwards, the officials highly praised the measures taken by the Chinese government in epidemic control, Jia said.

    Poultry receiving large scale vaccination

    China is giving large scale vaccination on poultry, according to Jia.

    "Not all poultry in China have been vaccinated, but in key areas, poultry have received vaccination. Poultry vaccinated have the capability to resist the infection of bird flu," said Jia.

    Jia said that the state and local governments will jointly pay for the vaccination in key areas, but he admitted that so far, the state has not fully paid all this year's vaccination fees.

    Covering up reports to be dealt with seriously

    People who would delay, cover up or hold up reports of epidemics of bird flu would be dealt with according to law, Jia said.

    "Any person, who would delay, cover up or hold up reports of epidemics would be prosecuted according to the Law on Animal Epidemic Prevention," Jia said. 

    "We have set up a stringent reporting and verification system," he said.

     No report of human infection

    There is no report yet of human infection of bird flu in China, said Jia.

    "According to the Ministry of Health, there is no report of human infection," said Jia at the press conference.

    Jia said that since autumn this year, three cases of bird flu have been reported in China, namely, in the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, Anhui and Hunan provinces. Enditem