Hong Kong to introduce new poultry vaccine

Hong Kong will introduce a new poultry vaccine to its chicken farms, the country’s Secretary for Food and Health, Ko Wing-man said.

The Re-6 vaccine, which has been successfully registered in Hong Kong, is more effective in preventing avian flu H5N1 than the existing one. The vaccine has already been introduced on Mainland China.

The government of Hong Kong hopes to introduce the new vaccine for use in local chicken farms before the end of 2012. Hong Kong has been adopting preventive and surveillance measures, including vaccination at local farms, import control, and stringent hygiene requirements at wholesale and retail markets to prevent avian influenza outbreak.

It will step up surveillance before the coming winter season, and surprise inspections will be conducted in local poultry farms and pet bird shops.

Source: Xinhua