Sunday, February 1, 2009

Hong Kong's department of Sha Lo Wan disinfection concerns avian influenza virus variants

By February 1 According to Sing Tao Daily, Hong Kong Web site reports, Sha Lo Wan on Lantau Island in Hong Kong last week seized the body of three ducks, suspected of carrying the H5 bird flu virus. FEHD staff in Hong Kong this afternoon on the 1st to the Sha Lo Wan Village to carry out cleaning and disinfection. Secretary for Food and Health York Chow said that there is no evidence that the Sha Lo Wan, it was free-range poultry, but concerned about the avian flu virus and the virus is present poultry change.Pm sent staff to the department seized the body of ducks and geese along the football field and wharfing sprinkling disinfectant bleach to clean again.

Dr Chow pointed out that the ducks and geese there are several possibilities for the body of sources, first, free-range poultry deaths were left there, and the other is near the dead poultry were disposed of in the water, and then are washed ashore. The possibility of these two authorities will follow up, while the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department in December last year has been all over the inspections in the New Territories to follow up the issue of free-range poultry. He added that the authorities will also notify the relevant Mainland authorities to follow up the Pearl River along the coast if there poultry deaths.

Dr Chow stressed that after entering the winter, the risk of avian influenza has been severe, the mainland one after another the past month occurred in 8 of human infection with avian influenza, and these cases have not discussed this with some large number of poultry (bird flu) outbreak associated. Authorities concerned about the virus and at present whether there is a poultry virus changed, because chickens infected with avian flu after a large number of deaths before infection to humans.
The people were infected with the disease on the poultry, but not a large number of poultry deaths, Does this indicate that some birds will carry the virus but no symptoms.

He called on members of the public try to avoid any contact with poultry, if contacted will have to wash their hands immediately or sterilized so as to minimize this risk. If any place in Hong Kong found dead or sick birds, we must try to notify the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department to enable them to deal with.

Dr Chow added that although avian flu and flu are two different diseases, but in Hong Kong the past week more and more cases of influenza are expected the next two to three weeks is the peak period of influenza infection, I hope the public, especially students, If there are symptoms will not go to school as much as possible to avoid transmission to other students. In addition, if there are any homes, homes for the aged or disabled persons homes found many cases, they will have to notify the Department of Health.

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