HK confirms another bird death from H5N1
(Reuters)
Updated: 2006-01-30 08:29

Hong Kong confirmed on Sunday that an Oriental Magpie Robin, the second this month, died of H5N1 avian influenza and warned people to avoid contact with wild birds for fear the disease could infect humans.

Chickens roam free through China's Anhui province in November 2005. China has announced that a 29-year-old woman has died from bird flu, bringing the number of human fatalities in the country to seven. [AFP]

The bird was found dead in a privately owned hut in an area called Sha Tau Kok, not far from the border with China, a government statement said.

Oriental Magpie Robins are common in Hong Kong and often kept as pets. The government said on January 19 another one had tested positive for H5N1.

The virus made its first known jump to humans in Hong Kong in 1997, killing six people. So far, it cannot be passed from human to human, but experts fear the virus could mutate causing a pandemic.

A spokesman with Hong Kong's Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department reminded the public to observe good personal hygiene.

"They should avoid personal contact with wild birds and live poultry and clean their hands thoroughly after coming into contact with them," he said.

Bird flu has killed at least 83 people worldwide since it re-emerged in late 2003, according to World Health Organization figures.