East China's Shanghai Municipality has ordered a suspension of bird-watching and other activities in nature reserves under its jurisdiction.

The move is to prevent the possible infection and spread of diseases between human beings and the birds, said a circular issued by the municipal bureau of agriculture and forestry.

The municipality has already reported suspected cases of avian influenza. 

Shanghai has three nature reserves and other wetlands. Records show that an average of 1 million migratory birds stop in Shanghai each year.

Yan Haiwei, head of the Administration for Dongtan Avian Nature Reserve in Chongming Island, said no bird flu cases had been found among birds at the nature reserve, but they had tightened the administrative procedures and unauthorized entry was prohibited in the reserve which is included into the world catalogue of wetlands.

Professional workers have been sent to monitor how migratory birds spend the winter at the nature reserve around the clock, while efforts have also been made to educate residents about the suspension, said Yan.

Xie Yimin, head of the section for wildlife protection with the municipal bureau of agriculture and forestry, said staff had been mobilized to conduct a sample survey of migratory birds and determine whether they were virus carriers. 

(Xinhua News Agency February 3, 2004)