Chinese scientists have stepped up monitoring of bird migration paths to prevent the deadly H7N9 bird flu strain from spreading.
The move comes as birds in the south have already started to fly north.
About ten wildlife conservation centers across China have started monitoring the migration paths of birds in fear of the H7N9 virus spreading to the north, according to the China Wildlife Conservation Association on Wednesday.
Three bird experts from the Qinhuangdao Wildlife Conservation Center, based in north China's Hebei Province, are collecting fresh bird excrement every day at seven observation points for examination.
Qinhuangdao has more than 50,000 square kilometers of wetland. Each year, tens of millions of birds from the south pass the city and some of them stay there.
The bird flu virus could infect many wild birds, especially migratory waterfowls, said Xiao Jinggui, a bird expert with the center.
Xiao called for local residents to stay away from injured and dead birds and report the discovery of such birds to relevant authorities.
Migratory birds may have carried the H7N9 avian influenza virus into China, Yu Kangzhen, the chief veterinarian with the Ministry of Agriculture said on Sunday.
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