March 6, 2006

China suspends live poultry supply to Hong Kong for three weeks

China has suspended the supply of live poultry and pet birds to Hong Kong for three weeks after a man died from bird flu in neighbouring Guangdong province, officials said on Mar 5.

While Guangdong has not reported any outbreak of bird flu, the government decided on the move to reduce contact between humans and live poultry and to reduce the accumulation of live poultry in the markets.

Officials said such preventive measures need to be taken in light of the growing risk of a bird flu outbreak in Hong Kong.

The latest human death from bird flu in China was the ninth person to die of the bird flu on the mainland. According to media reports, the 32-year-old man died on Mar 2.

China sends about 30,000 live chickens to Hong Kong each day. That has stopped with immediate effect from the suspension. The authorities hope the suspension of live poultry supply will prevent bird flu outbreaks spreading to the territory.