Two years ago China was in denial over the initial outbreak of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS), and it seems to have learnt a painful lesson since.
Now, it is dealing with its latest outbreak of another potentially lethal disease with determination and efficiency -- in its own communist style.
In the same way that communist leaders used to send propaganda cadres to every township and village to publicize their political directives, China has again resorted to its grass-root messengers to carry out education and action campaigns to stem bird flu.
PHOTO: AP
In times like this, the top-down approach of communist-style fiat does seem to have an impact, reaching the rural masses and making them aware of the seriousness and danger of a possible pandemic.
In and around Hohhot, the capital of the Inner Mongolia region, city dwellers and villagers in far flung rural areas have all quickly heard of the bird flu outbreak in Tengjiaying village this month -- and are told to take a variety of measures.
Barely days after news of the outbreak broke, villagers near the infected farm said local cadres and quarantine officers went door to door to take away every chicken, goose and duck kept at their homes.
Gao Fenglan from Luojiaying village said the village government has since returned to inspect every household on a daily basis to ensure no one still has fowl.
"I heard that they have dug a big ditch somewhere and burned the chickens there," the grandmother said. "We're not scared. Now they have destroyed the chickens, it should be fine."
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