Agricultural authorities in southwest China's quake-torn Sichuan Province on Monday have launched a poisoning campaign against mice in 21 of the worst-hit townships.

The provincial government has circulated an order for the campaign to begin in residential quarters in township seats, shelter centers for displaced people, collapsed homes, homestay farms and rural homes by the end of this month.

The order covers 21 townships in Aba, Deyang, Mianyang, Chengdu, Guangyuan and Ya'an.

The poisoning campaign would extend to farmland in June, said the circular, which called for better monitoring of pest conditions in the quake zone and other areas of the province.

A total of 42 sites have been listed for inspection.

Sichuan Provincial Department of Agriculture has ordered the establishment of a pest control team to monitor the campaign by recording details of bait-taking and the number of mice killed, and to report to authorities.

Provincial government departments have also held courses to train workers in pest control.

By Monday, poisoned bait had been laid at 2,709 newly erected shelter centers, 98.5 percent of the total in the quake zone, and in 1.23 million households, 65 percent of the total.

The earthquake measuring eight on the Richter scale struck Sichuan Province on May 12. It was felt across the country.

It has claimed at least 67,183 lives and left 361,822 people injured, and 20,790 missing as of midday Tuesday, according to the State Council Information Office.

(Xinhua News Agency May 27, 2008)