Recently, the haze of avian flu is looming large over many countries and regions worldwide, posing great threats to people's production and daily life and catching the high attention of the international community.

Bird flue is testing the scientific and psychological qualities of the general public. In the face of avian flu, some people are excessively scared at it. Some people turn pale at the mention of "birds"; some dare not eat meat and eggs of fowls; and others indiscriminately take preventive medicines.

Scientists point out that bird flu is now infected mainly among animals, although there are individual cases of humans who were infected by bird flu virus and died as a result, there is still no evidence of the spread of bird flu among people. Given this, there is no need to be panicky.

Human history is a history of struggle against diseases, and the epidemic of disease each time has promoted human progress. In the times of underdevelopment of science, once humans encountered the widespread of diseases, they could only attribute this to natural calamity and were at a loss what to do, and waited passively for their deaths.

Today, people have gotten deeper understanding of many major diseases and have had scientific countermeasures to cope with such diseases. Therefore, today in the face of bird flu, people should cope with it with a more mature mindset and in a rational and calm manner.

However, reason does not mean lowering one's guard, and calmness does not mean slacking off.

At present, the global epidemic situation remains, the situation of bird flu in China is still quite grim. According to experts, three of the eight global migrating lines of passage birds run through China, and birds pose great threats to aquaculture.

At the same time, China raises a lot of poultry, and it is highly possible for the occurrence and spread of bird flu in the country. Furthermore, domestic fowls are raised mainly in a scattered form, and management is exercised in an extensive way, thus making epidemic prevention rather difficult. This reminds us that at no time should we treat it lightly and relax our vigilance.

The sudden outbreak of bird flu is testing the Chinese government's ruling capability in dealing with contingencies. Although bird flu appeared in villages of some provinces and regions, the epidemic situation as a whole is kept under control, and there is no case of humans infected by pathogenic bird flu. This fully shows that the commanding and decision-making mechanisms from the central to local authorities are sound, and the comprehensive measures for mass prevention and mass control are effective.

In the prevention and control of avian flu, China has accumulated practical and effective experiences, such as thoroughly killing domestic fowls within three km round the epidemic spot, conducting a wide range of fowls immunization, establishing networks for the supervision and control of epidemic situation, etc.

At the same time, China has also established an open, transparent epidemic reporting system. In case an epidemic occurs, it will be immediately made known to society according to law, and it is impermissible for any acts of delaying and failing to report on epidemic and concealing the real situation. This series of efficient measures have not only established the good image of the government, but have also enhanced the public's confidence.

"Birds fly high freely over the skies". As there are no national boundaries for birds, so there are no national boundaries for diseases either. When the free migration of birds is integrated with the free mobility of human beings, the dangerous factors of the spread of bird flu among the people are also increasing: this is the alarm sounded by bird flu for humankind.

In globalization of today, the human public health problem has gone beyond national boundaries and has become a worldwide problem. The epidemic of diseases in any country and region may possibly become a disaster for all mankind. Reliance on the strength of a single country or region to resist the epidemic of major disease has little effect and is unrealistic.

The spread of bird flu is testing the international political responsibilities of various countries around the world. Any responsible country and government should unhesitatingly shoulder the responsibility of safeguarding people's health. Facts prove that global cooperation is an important means for preventing and controlling diseases.

World countries can effectively contain the spread of bird flu and other diseases and protect the lives and health of humanity only by extensively developing international cooperation, conducting exchanges of information about the epidemic situation and strengthening technological support.

(People's Daily November 8, 2005)