Avian influenza - China (Hong Kong)

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AVIAN INFLUENZA - CHINA (HONG KONG) (04)

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[see also:

Avian influenza - China (Hong Kong) (02) 20020206.3492

Avian influenza - China (Hong Kong) (03)

20020209.3516]

 

[1]

Sat 09 Feb 2002

Thomas E. Walton <Thomas.E.Walton

Source: APHIS Emergency Management Issue, 07 Feb 2002

12:35 PM

 

Avian Influenza (H5N1) in Hong Kong

---

Avian Influenza H5N1 was confirmed in chickens in Hong

Kong. Although the current virus is not exactly the

same as the deadly 1997 influenza which had then

mutated and infected 28 people, 6 of them fatally, it

is of the same H5N1 family.

 

Currently there are 9 confirmed cases of H5N1 in Hong

Kong. The outbreak originated at a Kam Tin farm last

week where more than 100 000 chickens were culled

after approximately 30 000 of them had died from avian

influenza. A second farm in Kam Tin was confirmed on

Mon 04 Feb 2002, where 54 000 birds were culled. A

third farm in the same area was confirmed on Tue 05

Feb, where 23 000 chickens were culled. Today, 6 newly

infected farms were confirmed in Hung Shui Kui, Kam

Tin, and Lau Fau Shan.

 

Also, three retail markets were identified on Tue 05

Feb 2002, as suspect cases of H5N1 and approximately

1000 chickens were culled at the four affected stalls.

 

Hong Kong's Department of Environment and Food has

placed a quarantine on 24 premises in Yuen Long and

has scheduled a one-day shutdown on poultry sales on

Fri 08 Feb 2002.

 

Current U.S. Department of Agriculture regulations

require that all poultry being imported into the

United States from any country, except Canada, be

quarantined for a minimum of 30 days and tested for

avian influenza.

 

If you have any questions, please contact the USDA,

APHIS, Veterinary Services, Emergency Programs staff

at 301-734-8073, 800-940-6524, or EMOC.

 

Please forward this information to other Federal,

State, and industry counterparts as necessary.

 

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[2]

Sun 10 Feb 2002

<promed

Source: ChinaDaily.Com, filed 09 Feb 2002 [edited]

<http://www1.chinadaily.com.cn/news/2002-02-09/56348.html>

 

 

Hong Kong's Chicken Markets Reopen After Bird Flu

Clean Up

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Business in poultry markets around Hong Kong was brisk

on re-opening Saturday following a one-day

government-ordered close down to disinfect stalls to

prevent the spread of the potentially-deadly bird flu.

 

The current outbreak is the third recurrence in five

years of bird flu, which leapt the species barrier to

kill six people in 1997, and has resulted in the

slaughter of around 190 000 chickens in about a

week. Live chickens were on sale again across the

territory a day after chicken sellers in markets

across Hong Kong used blowtorches and high-powered

water jets to wipe out all traces of the virus which

has killed hundreds of birds over the past week.

 

Fears that a fall in supply would lead to extortionate

hikes of about 40 percent in chicken prices proved

unfounded. However, chicken buyers scouring the wet

markets for bargain poultry in time for Chinese New

Year festivities next week were disappointed to find

the price per catty had risen some 20 percent to 24 HK

Dollars (3.08 US Dollars) per catty from 19 HK

Dollars.

 

Hong Kong authorities have voiced confidence they had

contained the latest outbreak of avian flu. Another

two farms were found on Friday to have been infected

with the virus and their 2800 chickens were

slaughtered, Environment and Food Secretary Lily Yam

told legislators. A total of 25 farms have now had

cases of the virus in the current outbreak.

 

Yam said Hong Kong's remaining 121 chicken farms were

" safe. " The latest bird flu cases come eight months

after an outbreak at wet markets led to the culling of

1.2 million birds at a cost to the

government of 245 million HK Dollars (31.45 million

US Dollars) in compensation.

 

The first outbreak in 1997 resulted in the culling of

1.4 million birds. The current epidemic is expected to

cost at least 5 million HK Dollars in compensation for

the slaughter of about 180 000 chickens on farms and

6000 in markets.

--

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