060201en05006

	news.gov.hk
	From Hong Kong's Information Services Department

February 1, 2006

Bird flu

2 more birds H5N1-positive

A Crested Myna found dead in Wong Tai Sin and a chicken a Sha Tau Kok resident brought from the Mainland have tested positive for H5N1, the Agriculture, Fisheries & Conservation Department says. More tests are being conducted.

The department's Acting Assistant Director Thomas Sit said tonight that Mai Po Nature Reserve and aviaries at four Leisure & Cultural Services Department parks will be closed from tomorrow.

The walk-in aviaries in Hong Kong and Yuen Long Parks will be closed, while the aviaries within enclosed areas at the Zoological & Botanical Gardens and Kowloon Park will be cordoned off.

Preventive measures: Acting Assistant Director of Agriculture, Fisheries & Conservation Thomas Sit says two more birds have tested positive for H5N1, while the Centre for Health Protection's Dr Thomas Tsang says the Shau Tau Kok resident and two others who had contact with the chicken have been isolated.

Mainland chicken

Mr Sit said the Myna was found dead in a park and submitted to the department for testing yesterday.

A Sha Tau Kok village resident bought the chicken from a Mainland relative on January 26. It fell ill on January 31 and died after being submitted for testing.

It was also reported that another chicken the villager's mother brought from the Mainland was eaten on January 30.

The department will ask backyard poultry owners in the area to surrender their birds.

Affected residents isolated

The Centre for Health Protection's Dr Thomas Tsang said the resident and his two family members have been isolated in Princess Margaret Hospital. They have been tested for H5N1 and preliminary results will be released tomorrow.

Dr Tsang said the centre will send letters to doctors and medical organisations to inform them of the situation, adding staff will inspect the village to see if any residents develop abnormal flu symtoms.

The centre will conduct contact tracing and notify its Mainland counterparts.

Dr Tsang also advised people to avoid personal contact with wild birds and live poultry.

To minimise the risk of an outbreak of H5N1, the Health, Welfare & Food Bureau is preparing legislation to ban chicken rearing in backyards or in domestic households.

Mr Sit also advised members of the public not to buy chickens from unknown retail outlets or unknown sources.