Beijing, Jan 21: China has announced tough measures to keep the potentially lethal bird flu out of the vast nation, especially from neighbouring Vietnam. As part of this, the ministry of agriculture has issued emergency directives requiring veterinary and quarantine units at grassroots to report bird flu situation to higher departments every day, media reports said here today.

It was the second emergency notice from the ministry following the outbreak of bird flu in Vietnam, South Korea and Japan.

"If cases of bird flu are spotted, all poultry within three kilometres of the site will have to be slaughtered and all poultry within five kilometres of the polluted region will have to be vaccinated immediately," the notice said.

The notice also asked local governments to set up emergency teams and store materials for emergency use.

"Everything should be taken care of to ensure immediate and effective actions are taken to eradicate the virus if cases of bird flu are found," it said.

Further, a round-the-clock monitoring mechanism has been established during the coming seven-day holiday of Spring Festival which falls on January 22.

Minister of agriculture Du Qinglin, who inspected chicken farms in Sanhe city, in north China's Hebei province yesterday expressed confidence that the epidemic disease could be prevented in China, if early and strict preventive measures are taken.

Bureau Report