March 27, 2006

Dead falcon in Hong Kong tests positive for H5N1 bird flu

A dead falcon found in a Hong Kong housing estate has tested positive for the H5N1 strain of bird flu, the government said Saturday (Mar 25).

Laboratory tests confirmed that the peregrine falcon was infected with the virus, the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department said in a brief statement.

The bird was collected by officials in a housing estate near the territory's border with mainland China by officials on Tuesday, the statement said. It died the following day.

More than 6,000 dead birds have been tested for bird flu since late October, the government has said. Of those, two chickens and 14 wild birds were confirmed to have the H5N1 virus.