The Government has stepped up measures to prevent avian influenza, following the confirmation of a human fatality associated with the virus in Guangzhou. A task force chaired by the Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture, Mr Fernando Chui Sai On, held an urgent meeting today and decided to step up measures in three key areas -- personal hygiene, poultry management and for the early discovery of suspected cases. Mr Chui said the Government was deeply concerned and would do all it could to stop the spread of the virus; they would also communicate closely with its counterparts in the Mainland and Hong Kong. Furthermore, he said, the Macao SAR would follow all guidelines of World Health Organisation in dealing with avian influenza, and would also step up preventive measures introduced earlier. These included enhanced surveillance on imported poultry and further notices to social service organisations, schools, live poultry workers, tourism operators and travellers. The task force, called the ''Influenza Pandemic Interdepartmental Co-ordination Group'', includes representatives from the Health Bureau, the Government Information Bureau, the Civic and Municipal Affairs Bureau, the Public Security Police Force, the Fire Services Bureau, the Social Welfare Bureau, the Education and Youth Affairs Bureau, and the Macau Government Tourist Office. For enquires please call the 24-hour hotline (Tel: 853-561122) set up by the Centre for Disease Control and Prevention.
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