Vice Premier Hui Liangyu, currently traveling in Chongqing Municipality in southwest China to study the bird flu situation, has urged all areas and departments concerned to step up control over the deadly epidemic.

In his talks with local people, Hui said the central authorities have attached great importance to controlling major animal epidemics, referring to recent instructions on the issue by President Hu Jintao and Premier Wen Jiabao.

Over the past few days, Hui visited local chicken farms to see if concrete measures have been taken to prevent bird flu. He urged local processing factories of animal products to adopt strict quality control measures, so as to supply consumers with quality meat.

While reminding people of the serious bird flu situation in some foreign countries, the official also warned local people not to be mindless about the fact that China is in a season with a high possibility of a bird flu outbreak as birds are making large-scale seasonal migration.

He urged local leaders to give top priority to the issue, adopt stricter preventive measures, further reform the system of veterinary management, and coordinate among different units.

(Xinhua News Agency October 27, 2005)