OIE Avian Influenza China Report

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HIGHLY PATHOGENIC AVIAN INFLUENZA IN CHINA (PEOPLE’S REP. OF ~)

Report on the initial stage of disease control

 

Information received on 19 March 2004 from Dr Shen Zhenzhao, General, Bureau of Animal Husbandry and Health, Ministry of

Agriculture, Beijing:

 

The first outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in

the People's Republic of China (PRC) was confirmed in Long’an County of

Guangxi Province on 27 January 2004 (see Disease Information, 17 [6],

31-32, dated 6 February 2004). Thereafter, 49 outbreaks occurred

consecutively in 16 mainland provinces, while 143,100 poultry were

affected by the disease, 127,600 died and approximately 9 million were

culled.

 

As of 19 March 2004, no new outbreaks have been reported in the PRC

for 32 consecutive days, and cordons on outbreak areas have been lifted.

HPAI has been effectively controlled, no human infection has been

reported and the production and living of the people have been restored

to normal. All of these factors mark the success of the initial stage of

HPAI control in the PRC.

 

The Chinese Government has attached great importance to HPAI

prevention and control. The State Council established the National HPAI

Prevention and Control Headquarters, which has coordinated and commanded

prevention and control activities in a unified manner across the PRC,

while local governments also set up the corresponding steering agencies

in a timely manner to organise culling, prevention and control

operations. The basic experience of HPAI prevention and control in the

PRC can be summarised as follows: strong leadership, close coordination,

firm reliance on science and laws, prevention and control by mobilising

the population and decisive intervention.

 

Major measures adopted include the following:

 

Emergency arrangements were made and a contingency plan was

formulated and initiated in a timely fashion.

 

The Chinese Government promulgated the National Contingency Plan

for HPAI, which clarified epidemic reporting, confirmation, grading, the

contingency commanding system, responsibilities of departments, control

measures and guarantee measures. The Technical Standards for Handling

HPAI Epidemic were formulated, which regulated the diagnosis of HPAI and

culling of poultry, biosafety disposal, sealing off of epidemic areas,

disinfection and protection of personnel.

 

The disease was controlled in the outbreaks so as to prevent any

further spread of the disease.

 

In areas where the disease occurred, all fowl within a 3-km radius

of the outbreak were culled and biosafety disposal was implemented;

compulsory vaccination was carried out within of the outbreak area; all

trading markets for poultry and poultry products within 10 km around the

outbreak areas were closed down; and large-scale disinfection was

undertaken in the outbreaks, outbreak areas and areas at risk of the

disease.

 

Active prevention work was carried out in areas unaffected by the

disease; disinfection was strengthened, and monitoring of the epidemic

and quarantine and supervision of live poultry and poultry products were

reinforced to prevent importation of the disease. Meanwhile, examination

and inspection of related goods at entry/exit ports were strengthened,

importation of poultry and poultry products from countries and regions

where the disease occurred was suspended, and efforts to prevent

smuggling and illicit trade activities in frontier areas were

strengthened. Exportation of poultry and poultry products from the

outbreak areas was also suspended.

 

Scientific and technological research to tackle the epidemic was

stepped up, while science- and technology-based methods were relied upon

for successful prevention and control.

 

In 1997, when HPAI broke out in the Hong Kong Special

Administrative Region of the PRC, the Chinese Government immediately

organised a multidisciplinary group of experts to conduct research into

prevention and control technologies. H5N2 low pathogenic virus strain

was imported from international reference laboratories. In line with the

requirements of the OIE, research on diagnostic reagents and vaccine

production technologies was undertaken so as to provide production and

technology reserves. This year, since the occurrence of the disease on

the mainland, research on and production and approval of new vaccines

has been accelerated, and two new vaccines of international advanced

level produced through genetic engineering were approved for production.

 

Input was increased and supportive policies were implemented in the

poultry industry.

 

The Chinese Government subsidises culling and compulsory

vaccination. Disease surveillance and prevention system development has

been strengthened, material reserves for epidemic prevention have been

increased and the necessary equipment provided. Meanwhile, support for

poultry farming and processing enterprises has been strengthened and

favourable policies on loans, discount interest rates and taxation have

been implemented.

 

Dissemination and popularisation of scientific knowledge has been

reinforced to increase public awareness of prevention and control of the

disease

 

Expert groups were organised to go to outbreak areas and key

production areas to actively engage in technical consultation, exchange

and training. Various information dissemination activities were carried

out to strengthen public awareness of HPAI prevention. According to

surveys, 98.6% of farmers were informed on HPAI, while 77.2% of farm

households responded that they were aware of the clinical signs of HPAI,

and 90% of farm households knew of the risk of HPAI being transmitted to

humans.

 

Through the adoption of various integrated prevention and control

measures, HPAI has at present been completely eliminated from Mainland

PRC, and success for the initial stage has been achieved.

 

We must, however, clearly recognise that the situation is still

grave for disease prevention and control. In light of the pattern of

spread of animal epidemics, we may suffer a recurrence of HPAI unless

preventive measures are strengthened.

 

This is because:

a) of the continuing presence of waterfowl carrying the virus;

 

b) with the weather warming up in most parts of the north,

migratory birds will fly northwards on a large scale, which may result

in the spread of the pathogen;

 

c) there will be more opportunities for trans-regional spread of

the disease as there will be more long-distance transportation of

poultry and substantial replenishment of birds in poultry production;

 

d) the disease still exists in some countries or regions

surrounding the PRC, hence there is a risk of the disease spreading

into the PRC;

 

e) the tremendous difficulty encountered in disease prevention and

control has not yet been overcome at the root since poultry production

in the PRC is a large industry covering extensive areas and many places

suffer from poor conditions for disease control.

 

Therefore, the relevant departments and local governments are

closely monitoring the disease, undertaking epidemiological studies in

the 49 places where outbreaks occurred and monitoring the situation in

key areas so as to prevent any resurgence of the disease.

 

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--

Dave Neale

UK Director

Animals Asia Foundation

 

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