Forestry departments in the Chinese national capital of Beijing have set up 12 centers to closely monitor the migration of birds in a bid to prevent bird flu from spreading into the city.

Workers have started to inspect poultry farms near waters where migratory birds nestle and when needed, blood samples will be collected to determine whether the poultry carry the bird flu virus, said Wang Bin with the Beijing City Headquarters for Prevention and Control of Major Animal Diseases.

"The waters will be cleared of poultry once there are signs showing infections," said Wang.

Over 350 kinds of birds are found in Beijing, most of which are migratory birds inhabiting reservoirs and lakes in the city.

In the meantime, park operators are banned from rearing water-based fowl in open waters.

To prevent bird flu from spreading into the national capital, the city has also suspended trading of birds on the market, and banned shipment of birds from outside Beijing, and prohibited poaching and trading of wild birds.

Wang added that workers had collected blood samples from pigeons and the results had proved there were no bird flu infections in pigeons reared in the city.

(Xinhua News Agency February 13, 2004)