Premier Li: 'High alert' to remain on bird flu

Premier hails timely release of news on outbreak, calls for quake relief efforts

Premier Li Keqiang on Sunday urged the nation to remain on high alert over the new strain of bird flu, to reduce the death rate.

The outbreak has killed at least 23 people.

Li also praised health workers for releasing information in a timely manner, saying this is vital to ease public fears.

Visiting the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention in Beijing, the premier spoke highly of efforts scientists have made in studying H7N9 bird flu, with China the first to discover the genetic order of the virus on March 28.

"Within one month of finding the genetic order, we effectively controlled the disease, which means it is preventable and controllable," Li said, adding that there is no evidence to show the virus can be transmitted between humans.

He promised transparency of information, saying this will allow the public to know the truth and will relieve their fears.

Li also called staff at the Lushan county station of disease prevention and control in Sichuan province, to discuss disease prevention in quake-hit regions. Lushan was hit by the magnitude-7 earthquake on April 20, which has claimed at least 196 lives.

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