February 5, 2004

550 Chickens Found Dead In Hong Kong

The bird flu alarm in Hong Kong was raised after 550 young chickens were found dead in a  local farm. Officials are testing them for bird flu.

The Hong Kong government said all were chicks, and it is believed they died after becoming infected with Newcastle disease, which does not pose a threat to humans.

Smaller numbers of dead chickens were found at the same farm earlier this week, but they tested negative for bird flu, the government said in a statement.

A government spokeswoman said she didn't know when the latest bird flu test results would be available.

Hong Kong isn't among the 10 Asian countries hit by bird flu, but the disease has struck here repeatedly in the past. In 1997, it killed six humans, prompting officials to slaughter 1.4 million chickens.

Neighboring China currently has infected fowl in 13 regions.