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All international passengers
traveling through Shanghai's Pudong International Airport
now must complete a health declaration form asking if they
have had close contact with poultry, birds, bird-flu patients
or suspected cases over the past week and whether they have
symptoms such as fever, coughing or shortness of breath.
Those who recently visited areas affected by bird flu or
had contact with poultry and passengers with temperatures
exceeding 100.4 degrees F will be required to undergo treatment
at a designated hospital, according to the official Xinhua
News Agency . The precautions are similar to those imposed
during the 2003 severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS)
outbreak.
Meanwhile, a team of experts from the World Health Organization
began an investigation of the bird flu deaths of two farmers
in the eastern province of Anhui. The experts will see whether
procedures for surveillance and diagnosis of the cases were
done properly.
Netherlands plans to relax anti-bird flu tactics
The Netherlands' Agriculture Ministry plans to lift requirements
that all commercial, pet and zoo birds in "high risk" areas
be kept sheltered or indoors starting Jan. 1.
"The peak of migration season is over by mid-December, and
what's more, there haven't been any infections found during
monitoring of wild birds," the ministry said in a statement.
Measures barring bird markets and mandating additional disinfection
procedures for imported birds will remain in force.
The announcement follows a recent decision by the European
Union Commission allowing countries to determine their own
policies to prevent bird flu outbreaks.
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