MACAO, June 15 (Xinhua) -- The Macao authorities are on high alert over the bird flu concern, according to an official statement issued here Thursday.

    The statement issued by the Health Bureau (HB) of Macao said the bureau will maintain all its preventive measures against avian flu.

    The statement cautioned the public to "keep a distance" from poultry wastes and urged those stay in close contact with live poultry to wear gloves and gauze masks.

    The HB also opened an around-clock telephone hotline for residents to check information.

    Meanwhile, the region's Civic and Municipal Affairs Bureau (CMAB) has pledged to strengthen preventive measures against the disease.

    The bureau announced Wednesday that it will halt the import of live poultry from the mainland city of Shenzhen, where a suspected human bird flu case occurred recently.

    The CMAB said it will also tighten the control at local poultry wholesale and retail markets to prohibit imported live poultry from staying overnight. Enditem