Singapore has taken a series of measures to prevent bird flu from entering into the city state, which is now free from such virus.

    According to the Channel News Asia reports on Thursday night, the Singapore government has since September this year implemented new rules to tighten control over bird imports and to keep tabs on migratory and wild birds.

    Currently, bird imports to Singapore are not quarantined since they come from bird-flu free countries, but such birds have to be isolated in their home country for three weeks and tested safe from bird flu before export. They are then inspected and tested again for avian influenza upon arrival.

    Some 1,000 birds have been imported from the places such as the Philippines and Guinea since then, and none of them has tested positive for bird flu.

    At the Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserves, the Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority (AVA) has stepped up migratory bird testing for avian flu to twice a month during the peak migratory season from September to March.

    The well-known Jurong Bird Park has also taken effective measures, which include giving flu jabs to birds and staff as well as disinfecting floor mats for visitors in case they step on droppings as they get up close with the birds.

    Earlier this week, Singapore´s Ministry of Health urged people to go for flu vaccinations, but not to stock up on anti-viral drugs because such drugs could be less effective at treating bird flu if they are used indiscriminately now.