Published Date: 2002-02-10 23:50:00
Subject: PRO/AH/EDR> Avian influenza - China (Hong Kong) (04)
Archive Number: 20020210.3527
AVIAN INFLUENZA - CHINA (HONG KONG) (04)
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Avian influenza - China (Hong Kong) (02) 20020206.3492Avian influenza - China (Hong Kong) (03) 20020209.3516
[1
Date: Sat 09 Feb 2002
From: Thomas E. Walton <Thomas.E.Walton@usda.gov>
Source: APHIS Emergency Management Issue, 07 Feb 2002 12:35 PM
Avian Influenza (H5N1) in Hong Kong
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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@APHIS.USDA.GOV.
Please forward this information to other Federal, State, and industry
counterparts as necessary.
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[2
Date: Sun 10 Feb 2002
From: <promed@promedmail.org>
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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