Chinese Vice Premier Hui Liangyu on Tuesday urged related departments to take more comprehensive and intensified measures to curb the outbreak of bird flu.

Hui made the call at a meeting of the National Bird Flu Prevention Headquarters under the State Council.

Hui, also director-general of the headquarters, highlighted the importance of communication and cooperation between localities and related departments, and outlined the key tasks in fighting the epidemic.

One of the tasks is to take immediate, effective surveillance, quarantine and disinfection steps to stop the epidemic spreading.

The non-affected areas must keep on high alert, and set up an overall search and monitoring network, he said.

He emphasized the medical examination and protection of the quarantine and disinfection teams, stressing that people must be protected from being infected by the deadly virus.

Hui called for more funds and compensation at state and local levels to help farmers and enterprises who have to slaughter poultry or close down their businesses. Governments at all levels must standardize the production and trade of poultry products and strengthen quarantine for fowl imports and exports as well, he said.

He also urged the speeding up of scientific research into the virus, and the introduction of more advanced prevention and control techniques. And more information on the prevention and control of bird flu should be provided to the public, he noted.

(Xinhua News Agency February 4, 2004)