Contingency plan?

An emergency plan using four levels of alert - red (very serious), orange (serious), yellow (somewhat serious) and blue (normal) is in place. Agricultural authorities must monitor areas at most risk of avian flu. In December, China was about halfway through vaccinating its poultry - some 14 billion ducks and chickens - against bird flu. It also said it had developed a much cheaper, domestically developed bird flu vaccine for animals, and hoped to produce a billion doses by the end of 2005. Import ban imposed on birds and bird products from H5N1 affected countries. Surveillance increased on major migration routes.

Vaccine research?

A Chinese company says it has begun trials of a vaccine against H5N1 for humans, though scientists caution it is difficult to prepare such a vaccine before the precise strain of any virus that might be transmissible from human to human is known.

Anti-virals stocks?

Bird flu patients are being treated with Tamiflu, Amantadine, and Rimantadine according to their symptoms. China is trying to stockpile drugs, but the number of doses is not available.

Other information?

Closer links between health and agriculture ministries established, to fight bird flu.

Information correct as of 21 February 2006