China's railway system is preventing bird flu spreading by disinfecting and vaccinating all poultry and related products transported by train.

According to a source with the Ministry of Railways' bird flu prevention and control office, all 6,059 tons of poultry and related products transported via rail from Feb. 4 to 16 had been disinfected and vaccinated.

The ministry has demanded that all railway stations strictly examine all poultry transported by train, to check the spread of bird flu.

Consignors of the poultry and related products must provide railway stations with effective disinfection and vaccination certificates before the items may be transported.

The passenger transportation department of the ministry has tightened control and examination of the luggage of travels, prohibiting the carriage of poultry by passengers on trains.

Meanwhile, the ministry has given priority to the transportation of H5N1 vaccines and disinfection liquid, the source said.

All railway bureaus have established bird flu prevention and control systems, and make daily reports to the ministry.

(Xinhua News Agency February 17, 2004)