A 16th human case of bird flu has been reported in Hong Kong as officials admit there have been problems with the mass slaughter of 1.25 million chickens in the former colony.

The authorities have also started testing rats amid fears they could spread the deadly virus. This followed the discovery that animals had opened sacks of slaughtered chickens.

Officials are now considering expanding the testing to include dogs and cats as well as other birds such as ducks and geese.

Latest case

On Saturday health authorities confirmed that a 19-year-old woman fighting for her life in intensive care in hospital was suffering from the bird flu.

The woman, who had been listed as one of six suspected cases, is the sixteenth confirmed case. Four people have died and three are on the critical list.

The news comes as officials in the territory are facing mounting criticism over their chicken slaughtering operation which they hoped would hope would restore public confidence.

Extermination continues

Officials have admitted that the operation has run into a number of logistical problems that they are now struggling to address.

The scheme was supposed to take only 24 hours but in fact lasted more than three days.

The BBC's JIll McGivering in Hong Kong: " Hong Kong residents reported seeing live chickens" (Dur: 1' 27")

Officials said the scale of the killing was unprecedented and the operation was carried out by government staff who had little or no experience of slaughtering.

On Friday, five days after it began, Hong Kong residents reported seeing live chickens wandering close to public housing estates.

The birds are thought to have escaped from nearby farms after surviving the gas used in the slaughter.

There have also been delays in disposing of the carcasses of dead poultry.

In some areas of Hong Kong, rats, dogs and cats have been seen tearing open refuse bags and eating dead birds.

This has sparked fears that the virus could spread through any animals which have direct contact with infected chickens.

Scientists are now turning their attention to other animals to see if they are capable of carrying the dangerous "bird flu" virus which the slaughter was intended to eliminate.

Vendors have protested outside markets, demanding higher compensation for lost trade

Hundreds of samples have been taken from rats and dogs living close to one of Hong Kong's wholesale chicken markets.

The market was earlier declared an infected site after dead chickens there tested positive for the new virus.

One official said if there were any positive tests amongst rats and dogs, the authorities would consider extending the slaughter beyond chickens.

Members of Hong Kong's Executive Council are meeting to discuss what further measures to take.
 

Back to top | BBC News Home | BBC Homepage	©