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BBC News Online: World: Asia-Pacific


Sunday, 17 February, 2002, 10:49 GMT

Hong Kong bird flu spreads


Hong Kong food safety workers
Over a million birds were slaughtered last year
Hong Kong authorities say they have placed five more farms in quarantine and slaughtered almost 200,000 chickens, amid concerns about the spread of bird flu.

The farms - in the Kam Tin area of the New Territories - were found to be infected with the H5-type virus, which officials fear could spread to humans.

Hong Kong food safety workers

Hong Kong has already killed more than 300,000 young birds in the past few months, and has placed dozens of poultry farms under quarantine to prevent the disease spreading.

The measures were taken after scientists warned the virus could mutate in a similar way to one which killed six people in 1997.

But the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department said the disease had been contained.

"There is no sign to show that this is a new outbreak of disease or that the disease is spreading to farms outside the quarantine area," a statement said.

"As the newly confirmed infected farms have been put under quarantine from 5 February, no chickens have left these farms since then," it added.

Popular food

The authorities have also ordered the closure of poultry markets for two days per month for disinfecting.

Chicken is a popular food in Hong Kong - residents consume an average of 100,000 birds a day.

But a deadly version of the bird flu virus crossed the species barrier in 1997 to kill six people. Over a million birds were slaughtered as a result.

And last May, another outbreak flu led to the slaughter of Hong Kong's entire poultry population - 1.37 million birds including geese, ducks and quail - though the strain was found to be non-fatal to humans.


Related to this story:
Hong Kong seals off chicken farms (06 Feb 02 | Asia-Pacific) Hong Kong battles bird flu (19 May 01 | Asia-Pacific) Hong Kong orders poultry slaughter (18 May 01 | Asia-Pacific) 'Bird flu' hits Hong Kong (16 May 01 | Asia-Pacific) New bird flu strikes (08 Apr 99 | Asia-Pacific) WHO look for bird flu source (16 Jan 98 | World) Avian flu (18 May 01 | A-B)


Internet links: Centre for Disease Control - Hong Kong Avian Flu outbreak 1997 | Hong Kong administration |
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