Wednesday, August 31, 2011
Chicken farms have been urged to repair bird-proof nets and adhere to strict biosecurity measures after the United Nations warned about a new mutant strain of the deadly bird flu virus in the mainland and Vietnam.
The UN Food and Agriculture Organization warned about the appearance of the new mutant strain known as H5N1 - 2.3.2.1 that can "sidestep the defenses" of veterinary vaccines.
The Centre for Health Protection last night revealed that a 59-year-old woman, who returned from the mainland sickened by the H5N1 bird flu, had the mutant virus.
She was seriously ill when admitted to Tuen Mun Hospital on November 14 with pneumonia. Her case prompted activation of the serious response level under the government plan to deal with an influenza pandemic.
A center spokeswoman said last night it has not detected any human H5N1 cases originating in the SAR this year.
Despite the warning regarding the vaccine, the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department will continue to use the Intervet Nobilis H5N2 jab in the mandatory program for chickens at local farms. This procedure has been in place since 2003.
In Vietnam, which suspended its springtime poultry vaccination campaign this year, most of the northern and central parts - where H5N1 is endemic - have been invaded by the new strain.
Eight dead wild birds in Hong Kong have been confirmed with the H5 virus this year. It was most recently detected in a goose in March.
"We will remind poultry farmers to strictly adhere to biosecurity measures such as repair the bird-proof nets in farms," a department spokesman said.
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