HK on alert after new cases of bird flu

(Shanghai Daily)
Updated: 2008-12-10 09:47

Chicken farms in Hong Kong observe strict biosecurity measures to prevent disease and cross-infection between species, and chickens are vaccinated against the H5N1 virus. It was not immediately known how the birds became infected.

"It could be injection (of the virus) from wild birds. These (incidences) increase in winter. But it is not the only possibility," Peiris said.

The scenes were reminiscent of previous culls in 1997 and 2001, when the H5N1 virus prompted the slaughter of more than 1 million birds each time. In the 1997 outbreak, six people died.

Chow also ordered a precautionary three-week ban on poultry imports to contain any potential spread of the virus.

"We will ban all the outlets of all chickens from our farms for 21 days and also suspend all the imports of chicken and poultry including birds for the next 21 days," Chow said.

The last bird flu outbreak at a Hong Kong farm was in early 2003.

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