MOA and FAO jointly held a training course on H7N9 prevention & control in Guangzhou from March 18 to 20, 2014. Competent domestic and overseas experts were invited to provide lectures and guidance in this field across the country.
The training course focused on H7N9 sampling & surveillance, live poultry vaccination & market monitoring, market chain investigation & analysis, and other core links and technologies in relevance. The two sides worked closely to design curricular and coordinate lecture arrangements, to make the course more efficient, targeted and practical.
In addition to informative lectures, other interactive activities among trainees were conducted to enhance their capacity and accordingly further improve the competence of veterinary teams in different localities.
In his speech at the opening ceremony,John Edward,Senior Technical Coordinator of FAO ECTAD China, noticed China's firm determination and positive attitude in response to H7N9 outbreaks through its closer cooperation with international organizations. As the next step, FAO will beef up its partnership with MOA to promote China's public health and food safety, and achieve the goals of H7N9 prevention & control together.
Since H7N9 human cases were detected in Shanghai, Zhejiang and some other places in March 2013, MOA and local veterinary services have strengthened cooperation and carried out effective countermeasures in line with the deployment of central authorities, and made initial progress acknowledged nationwide.However, the year 2014 so far has seen a certain number of H7N9 human cases in several provinces, giving rise to widespread social concerns again.