A blockade of the HPAI affected area should be enforced as soon as possible. This will serve to restrict circulation of poultry, personnel and vehicles used for transport. It will stem the transmission of the HPAI virus from the affected area to unaffected areas. It will prevent the epidemic from spreading further and becoming more serious. And it will help mitigate the potentially huge economic losses and negative international repercussions.

(China.org.cn February 13, 2004)