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The Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department said today (July 7) that it would remind local chicken farms of the need to guard against any possible outbreak of avian influenza.

In response to media enquiries arising from a new case of avian influenza in Anhui Province, a spokesman for the department said vaccination and bio-security measures had been adopted by local farms.

He also said the department would continue surveillance of wild birds and birds at recreational parks. Laboratory tests on some 2,600 samples of droppings from wild birds since February 2004 have produced negative results.

Ends/Wednesday, July 7, 2004

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