On Wednesday, health officials in Anhui lifted a ban on the slaughter of poultry in markets, saying that H5N1 avian influenza has been brought under control in the eastern province.

The provincial bird flu prevention headquarters encouraged all live poultry dealers and slaughterers to resume business, also asking local officials to strengthen supervision of live poultry markets.

"The lifting of the ban will help poultry trading in the province to recover, retrieve farmers' losses and revive the development of the breeding business," said Hu Wei, deputy director of the bird flu prevention office in Xuancheng City.

Local governments at all levels in the province were also called on to help improve public awareness of how to prevent the spread of bird flu to ensure personal health and safety.

Anhui has confirmed two human cases of bird flu so far, both in women: a 24-year-old farmer named Zhou who died on November 10 and a 35-year-old farmer named Xu who died on November 22.

It was also reported yesterday that major packinghouses in Urumqi, capital of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region in northwest China, had resumed operations after the bird flu quarantine there was lifted on December 10.

China has reported 30 outbreaks amongst birds this year in 11 provinces and autonomous regions and reported five laboratory-confirmed human cases.

(Xinhua News Agency December 15, 2005)