H5N1 bird flu hits Hong Kong
Hong Kong health authorities have slaughtered thousands of birds in a poultry market after chickens were found to be carrying the H5N1 bird flu virus.
The slaughter of 2,700 birds may be extended to all live poultry in the territory if the virus is detected in any other locations, said Secretary for Food and Health York Chow. “Since we have detected the virus in the market, we will cull all the chickens in this market. If we find another positive detection in another market, then we will assume that the risk is much higher and we need to cull all the chickens in all the markets.”
Routine bird flu checks detected the H5N1 virus in five samples of chicken waste, which were collected on 3 June from three vendors in the market in the Sham Shui Po residential district.
Chow has ordered a 21-day ban on the supply of live poultry from mainland China and from local farms.
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