December 24, 2007

Dead buzzard found near Hong Kong tests positive for bird flu

A dead bird found on an outlying Hong Kong island has tested positive for the deadly strain of H5N1 bird flu, the second similar case in two weeks, the government said Friday.

Test results confirmed the diagnosis on the dead common buzzard found Monday on Lantau island, the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department said in a statement.

The government said last week a dead gray heron tested positive for bird flu and ordered its famed Mai Po bird sanctuary closed for three weeks as a precaution.