China plagued by bird-flu coverups

[nosleepinghere]

China plagued by bird-flu cover-ups- Asia Times (6/8/06)

The Chinese government is said to be taking a more positive, responsible

attitude in dealing with avian influenza, than they did with the 2003 SARS

epidemic, but that hasn't filtered down to the provinces. Overwhelmingly

concerned with economic growth, some local officials still tend to cover up

any outbreak of bird flu, defying Beijing's order to report new cases

immediately. Beijing has punished some local officials for their

incompetence in dealing with bird-flu outbreaks. Asia Times Online found

that in rural areas, local officials and residents really don't like any

action that might expose a possible bird-flu outbreak, fearing the damage it

would do to the economy.

http://www.atimes.com/atimes/China/HF08Ad01.html

 

 

[MoonGoddess]

It's not so much the authorities as the poorest people who have only a few chickens between them and the breadline. They know if they report a sick chicken the authorities will come and cull all the chickens in the village, so everyone keeps quiet. It's frightening.