February 5, 2014

In order to avoid cross-infection with local birds, Mainland China's live poultry might be kept at a site near the border with Hong Kong until they are confirmed to be free of the bird flu virus, said Hong Kong's Secretary for Food and Health, Ko Wing-man.

While all poultry are currently kept at the Cheung Sha Wan wholesale market while they wait for test results, this led to locally bred birds being culled with infected mainland poultry last week, prompting complaints of losses from local breeders and traders.

Two new cases of H7N9 were reported in Guangdong Sunday (Feb 2). One was a 63-year-old man in Shenzhen who died on Saturday (Feb 1); the other, a 37-year-old man in Zhongshan, was in critical condition. More than 270 H7N9 infections have been reported on the mainland since the virus emerged in March last year.

After poultry sample from Guangdong tested positive for H7N9 last Monday (Jan 27), all live poultry trade including imports have been suspended in Hong Kong until February 18.

Ko said he had been looking at ways to separate mainland and local poultry before tests results were released and it would take some time to decide on a suitable location. However, local poultry breeders and traders are expecting the government to give them a definite reply, when they are scheduled to meet. Otherwise they would consider filing for a judicial review on the government's poultry culling.

Local poultry breeders are also pressing the government to let local breeders sell their poultry before the end of the trade suspension. The birds are accumulating on farms in the New Territories and breeders are worried about an increased risk of infection.