March 6, 2012

Hong Kong reveals further HPAI outbreaks in wild birds

Hong Kong's veterinary authorities have revealed three fresh outbreaks of the highly pathogenic avian influenza in Cheung Chau and Mongkok.

Dead birds, including two oriental magpie robins and a crested goshawk, were collected in February.

An intensive surveillance system is in place for all poultry farms, poultry markets and pet bird shops in Hong Kong. The H5N1 infected wild birds and goose carcass from unknown source were detected in on-going surveillance programme on wild birds.

A total of 19,451 poultry, including 15,569 chickens, 810 pigeons, 1,950 pheasants and 1,122 silky fowls were culled in the Cheung Sha Wan Temporary Wholesale Poultry Market on December 2011. The Wholesale Poultry Market was closed. Importation of live poultry and movement of poultry in local farms is banned for 21 days.

Surveillance and monitoring of local chicken farms has been stepped up. No H5 virus was detected in samples taken from the 30 chicken farms in Hong Kong. The Wholesale Poultry Market was reopened on January 2012.

The source of the outbreak remains inconclusive.