Although no cases of bird flu have been reported in Shanghai, the city government has hired thousands of workers to vaccinate every fowl coming into China's largest urban center, said Jiao Yang, spokesman for the Shanghai municipal government.

Shanghai's government also plans to build 160 outpatient clinics around the city to monitor people showing signs of fever, said Jiao.

It constitutes part of an intense mission to prevent and control human infections of the highly pathogenic bird flu known as H5N1

Since Nov. 23, all domestic poultry entering Shanghai have been tested and only those that pass this test will be allowed in.

The city has also appointed more than 2,000 village-level observers who are held responsible for reporting on conditions in poultry farms and households that raise poultry as a source of income.

On Dec. 1 the city closed flower and bird markets in order to

thoroughly disinfect them.

Agricultural departments now require all domestic poultry be vaccinated and forestry departments have also stepped up the observation of wild birds in key areas and have established a daily reporting system.

The health departments have set up a special task force of 30 specialists that will be called to action if an outbreak does occur.

Source: Xinhua