SFH on avian influenza

A more extensive version of an earlier report

SFH on avian influenza
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Following is the transcript of remarks made by the Secretary for Food and Health, Dr York Chow, at a stand-up media session after attending a public function today (January 19):

Secretary for Food and Health: We are concerned about the three human cases in the Mainland in the last month, particularly all three cases were reported with avian flu and yet they are not connected directly with any outbreak of avian flu in poultry. This is one of the concerns that we have. We have also requested the Mainland authorities to let us know when they finish the epidemiological study of these cases. There are two main areas that we are concerned with, one is if there is no avian flu outbreak in poultry and yet there are human cases, whether there is a change in the virus. Secondly, whether there are more so called silently infected chickens that actually have the potential of carrying the virus and transmitting the disease and yet do not show any symptoms of illness or do not actually die from those illnesses. So, these are the things we are concerned with. Because of that, we have decided that we would not increase the number of imported chickens from the Mainland this year so that we would not change the pattern of trading and transport during this period of time. I know that this might be of concern to the trade themselves and this would also lead to the increase in prices. Balancing the different factors, we think this is the appropriate decision to make.

Reporter: If you did not increase the import of chickens over the Lunar New Year, there would be an increase in smuggling activities of chickens from the Mainland.

Secretary for Food and Health: We have already informed all the concerned departments including the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department, the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department as well as the Hong Kong Customs to ensure that we would be very vigilant in tracing any clues regarding smuggling and also counteracting any smuggling activities. I have also to appeal to the public that they should be careful when they are approached by anybody who wants to sell chickens of unknown sources, particularly if you go abroad outside Hong Kong, be careful not to get in contact with poultry, and do not actually buy any poultry meat and take it back to Hong Kong.

Reporter: Regarding the case where a chicken trader committed suicide on Saturday, what is your response to that?

Secretary for Food and Health: I would like to urge the trade to remain calm and rational about their actions. As you know, we have to judge the risk of avian flu in Hong Kong, the risk of smuggling poultry into Hong Kong and various activities of the trade before we made this decision. I hope they would understand this. We estimate that the price of live chickens would increase. In previous years during Chinese New Year, they increase anyway. But I believe this year, the price would be even higher than the past year.

Reporter: (link to the risk of bird flu)

Secretary for Food and Health: As long as we keep to the existing number of imports and also the number of chickens that would be coming out from the local farms, I believe that the trade would still have substantial business, although it might not be as vibrant as the past years.

Reporter: Are you surprised that the past few infections are all female...

Secretary for Food and Health: It is really difficult to draw a conclusion on just three cases. But as you know, it is usually the female who goes to the market, the female to look after the chickens at home. I think the kids would play with the chickens at home. Even in the 300 cases in the whole world, there are more children, particularly more vulnerable to avian flu.

(Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the transcript)

Ends/Monday, January 19, 2009
Issued at HKT 17:17
hat-tip Helblindi