Fears of a bird flu outbreak in Hong Kong rose yesterday after nine more dead birds were found on Lantau.
Adele Wong
Tuesday, February 03, 2009
Fears of a bird flu outbreak in Hong Kong rose yesterday after nine more dead birds were found on Lantau.
The carcasses of a goose, five chickens, one duck and two birds that were not identified bring to 12 the number of dead birds found on the island since Thursday. The first three tested positive for H5N1.
Hong Kong University assistant professor in the department of microbiology Leo Poon Lit-man said the discoveries increased the chances of a bird flu outbreak.
"If the carcasses are the result of an as-yet- unknown outbreak in the mainland, and [in a place] close to the city, there is a greater likelihood of Hong Kong citizens being exposed to bird flu."
The Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department is investigating whether the birds may have come from nearby villages or farms.
Department assistant director Liu Kwei-kin said inspections will cover Lantau and then the rest of the territory.
Liu said Hong Kong will collaborate with mainland officials to determine whether the birds came from over the border.
"We will also conduct tests on all carcasses to see whether they are carrying the avian flu virus."
Villagers said there have been other occasions when dead poultry washed ashore. Sha Lo Wan village head Lee Chi-fung said residents believe the dead birds came from the Pearl River Delta.
"We will need to be more careful when walking on the beaches," a female resident said.
The HKU department of microbiology said it is working at sequencing the carcasses to determine whether the birds had succumbed to avian flu, and hopes to complete the process today.
Eighteen people who were exposed to the carcasses in Sha Lo Wan are under medical surveillance by the Center for Health Protection.
The mainland has reported eight human cases of H5N1 infection since December. Five of the victims died.
hat-tip Niman
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