Poultry farmers should be targeted first in the prevention of
bird flu, Jia Youling, chief farming expert at the Chinese Ministry
of Agriculture said in an exclusive interview by Xinhua News
Agency.
Following are protective measures that should be taken:
Avoid domestic fowl from making contact with wild birds; set the
location of poultry farms far away from river courses and lakes
where waterfowl and wild birds perch; don’t rear ducks or geese
near chicken farms; working staff in poultry farms had better not
raise domestic fowl or caged birds; adopt an enclosed raising
manner in a bid to strictly prevent wild birds from entering
poultry cages; prevent water sources and feed being polluted by the
excrement of wild fowls.
Sterilizing facilities should be set up in production zones in
poultry farms, aimed to wash and sterilize entry-exit vehicles;
poultry staff should change their clothes, hats and shoes or boots,
and shower, before entering production zones; kill destructive
insects regularly, such as ants and flies as well as rats; dead
fowl must be burned or deeply buried.
Additionally, in respect of bird flu prevention associated with
the outdoor chicken farming, Jia said that poultry staff should
avoid going from house to house, and rear chickens in enclosed
areas and sterilize chicken coops.
(China.org.cn by Zhang Tingting and Daragh Moller, February 4,
2004)