July 31, 2006

Hong Kong revises poultry supply ban period

Hong Kong has revised the suspension period of the Chinese mainland live poultry supply from 21 days to 14 days if a human bird flu case is confirmed, Hong Kong Health, Welfare and Food Bureau said Saturday (Jul 29).

The Centre for Health Protection Scientific Committee on Emerging and Zoonotic Diseases of Hong Kong announced that if human bird flu cases are detected in the neighbouring Guangdong Province without an outbreak in poultry, the suspension period of mainland live poultry supply can be cut to 14 days.

The 21-day reference period had been drawn from the World Organization for Animal Health's Terrestrial Animal Health Code which sets 21 days as the time period for incubation of the virus in poultry.

The bureau said that while a general 14-day suspension following the confirmation of a human case can be set for observation purposes, each case would be judged separately for epidemiological and exposure history. Any other abnormal situation in poultry farms would also be evaluated when deciding whether to extend the suspension.

The 14-day suspension period would not be applied to poultry farms supplying Hong Kong if bird flu is detected there, as the bureau would then need more time to ensure the situation is under control before resuming imports.