China is capable of detecting bird flu in human beings if cases occur, according to an expert from the China Disease Control and Prevention Center.

"There is no possibility of flu virus slipping by us," said Guo Yuanji, a researcher with the center.

China is in a leader in the world in the research of flu virus and has isolated many types of typical flu virus, said Guo, also a member of the flu contingency team of World Health Organization. So far, China has set up flu monitoring stations in 31 provinces, municipalities and autonomous regions.

Guo said that the country's bird flu monitoring system is composed of two layers, namely, the provincial labs and the state lab. The provincial labs use reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) testing and serum testing of samples collected from those who have contact with infected poultry, while the lab within the State Flu Center rechecks the suspected cases and makes a confirmation.

(Xinhua News Agency February 23, 2004)