Chinese Vice Premier Hui Liangyu has urged concerned departments to strengthen bird flu prevention in face of new cases reported in other countries.

China has made some achievements in fighting against the epidemic in the autumn and winter seasons, said Hui.

The Ministry of Health spokesman said last week that China has not seen any new cases of animal or human bird flu infections since the onset of winter.

However, the vice premier warned of possible outbreaks as new cases have been reported recently in other countries and the peak season for poultry trade will come with the arrival of the New Year and the Spring Festival.

The Ministry of Agriculture has asked local veterinarian departments to strengthen vaccination of poultry and conduct stricter monitoring.

It will launch a nationwide inspection over animal-related products in later December to ensure that they are free of bird flu virus.

About 47,000 poultry birds died in 10 outbreaks of bird flu in seven provinces on the Chinese mainland this year, with another 2.94 million fowls culled, said the ministry in November.

The cases of human infection with bird flu numbered 13 this year, six more than last year, according to the Ministry of Health.

(Xinhua News Agency December 16, 2006)