Anti-bird flu drill held in Shanghai

Following the two most recently reported cases of human bird flu infection in neighboring Jiangsu Province, health authorities in Shanghai have carried out a drill to test the city's response to the virus.

The exercise was staged just in time for the peak season for respiratory infection.

The drill started 9:15 AM when a young man checked in at a community clinic in Jiangning Road neighborhood. With symptoms including fever, coughing and headaches, the man was immediately transfered to Jing'an District Central Hospital. The patient said that he had recently been to a cockfighting show overseas.

Doctors then sent his test sample to the Shanghai Municipal Center for Disease Control & Prevention or SCDC and started checking the patient's close contacts.

Meanwhile, SCDC sent the patient in an ambulance to the Shanghai Public Health Center for isolated treatment.

A doctor said, "We suggest to transfer the patient for isolated treatment, and to hold an expert panel for the further diagnosis."

The most recent case of bird flu in Juangsu Province alerted local health authorities to the issue. They hope the drill can test and improve their future disease monitoring and control abilities.