Chinese Vice Premier Hui Liangyu promised to tighten animal epidemic monitoring in light of the global influenza A/H1N1 outbreak.

Hui made the statement during a visit to central Hubei Province from April 29 to May 1.

Besides strict monitoring, the government would enhance animal immunity measures, he said.

Prevention of the new flu was important for China's livestock and farm produce market, which were struggling amid the global downturn, Hui said.

"We should pay more attention to preventing pork prices from dropping too much," he said, adding that the government would "fully" implement all support policies for pig farming.

Hui asked government departments to educate the public about the new flu so as to reduce misunderstanding of pork consumption.

The new flu virus, containing DNA from avian, swine and human viruses, is spreading from person to person, and the World Health Organization has raised its threat level to Phase 5, the second highest.

China confirmed its first case in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Friday but the mainland has not reported any case yet.

China's Health Ministry has included A/H1N1 on the same epidemic list with SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome), HIV and viral hepatitis.

It raised prevention and control measures to the same level as more serious epidemics such as cholera.

(Xinhua News Agency May 2, 2009)