The Ministry of Agriculture is intensifying efforts to prevent and control fatal bird flu during the spring.

The ministry has dispatched six teams to 13 provinces to conduct inspections to ensure the implementation of various preventative measures.

Inspections will focus on the vaccination in areas plagued by bird flu and on the supply, storage, use and quality of vaccines.

The teams will also inspect the implementation of an emergency response system aimed at dealing with the outbreak of major animal diseases and guide the establishment of a sound emergency response system in various parts of the country.

Inspection will also include prevention and control measures in areas inhabited by migrant birds, border areas and remote mountainous areas.

The system on monitoring the outbreak of bird flu and the gathering of information will be further improved.

Officials from the ministry said that the Ministry of Finance has allocated funds for bird flu vaccines, which will soon be distributed to various provinces and autonomous regions.

Farmers who breed poultry can get vaccines free if they quarantined their poultry in accordance with the State plan, said the officials.

(Xinhua News Agency March 16, 2006)