October 31, 2005

 

Hong Kong to kill all chickens if outbreaks confirmed

 

Hong Kong would slaughter all chickens and ban poultry farming if bird flu outbreaks were confirmed in two poultry farms, a senior health official said Monday.

 

The tough measures underscored this densely populated city's concern about the threat of bird flu, which has been spreading across the border in mainland China.

 

Hong Kong reported the world's first outbreak of bird flu in humans in 1997 when the disease killed six people there, but the territory has been spared in the global wave of infections since late 2003.

 

However, Eddy Chan, deputy secretary for health, welfare and food, told lawmakers that if two separate farms confirmed outbreaks of the deadly H5N1 strain of the disease, the government would cull all of the poultry in the territory.

 

"If infections happen at a second farm, it shows that the virus is already spreading. So we can't wait for it to happen in a third farm before taking action," Chan said.

 

The territory's farms had a maximum capacity of 3.7 million chickens, but officials could not immediately say how many birds were being raised now.

 

Chan added that all of Hong Kong's 2,260 local poultry farms would be closed for good if outbreaks were reported at two farms.

 

Health experts have warned that the bird flu virus could mutate into a form that could be easily transmitted between humans, and cause a global pandemic that could kill millions.

 

Hong Kong has been extremely watchful for disease outbreaks in mainland China since SARS crossed the border, killing nearly 300 people in the territory and ravaging its economy about two years ago.

 

China has recently reported three outbreaks among birds but no human deaths.

 

Also on Monday, Lau Sin-pang, deputy director of the agriculture, fisheries and conservation department, said officials have reminded poultry farm owners to remain vigilant against bird flu.

 

About a week ago, local media reported that holes in safety nets at chicken farms were allowing wild birds to fly in and mingle with poultry.

 

Lau said Monday that farm owners must mend holes in nets within a week to avoid getting their farm licenses revoked.