Subject: HK Bird - A Scaly-breasted Munia 斑文鳥驗出禽流感 [Print This Page] Author: tbob Time: 4/01/2007 20:36 Subject: HK Bird - A Scaly-breasted Munia 斑文鳥驗出禽流感
http://www.news.gov.hk/en/category/healthandcommunity/070104/html/070104en05002.htm Author: fforrest Time: 5/01/2007 00:25 Subject: Distribution Map of Scaly-breasted Munia in HK
Author: Webcreeper Time: 6/01/2007 09:00
6/1/07 明報 Mingpao
The dead Scaly-breasted Munia found earlier is a popular bird used for religious release. A study by HKU in 2005 found that AFCD’s records of munia trade was less than what was happening in the market. AFCD acknowledged that no permit is required for importing birds from mainland China or over land but Customs may ask the trader for official animal health certificates.
Avian flu scare sparks call to halt practice of releasing birds
Experts urge ban as fears mount that blessing seekers could fuel epidemic
MARY ANN BENITEZ, NG KANG-CHUNG and CELINE SUN
The government will renew its appeal to religious and community groups to stop people seeking blessings by releasing birds into the wild following the discovery of a dead bird with avian flu in a busy shopping district.
But an academic says only an outright ban on the practice can safeguard public health and the health of bird sellers and buyers. At least half a million birds are believed to be imported every year for release.
There is speculation that six scaly-breasted munias found dead on Sunday in Causeway Bay may have been released by people seeking blessings. One of the six tested positive for H5 bird flu. Further tests are still being carried out to determine if the flu strain is the deadly H5N1.
It is not illegal to release birds, but a spokesman for the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department said it "strongly advises" people against doing so.
"Captive birds stand little chance of surviving in the wild," he said.
"We had already contacted the community organisations concerned, including religious groups, to make such an appeal last year and were given to understand that these groups no longer released birds. We will remind them to co-operate with us again."
But Richard Corlett, professor of ecology and biodiversity at the University of Hong Kong, said a complete ban on releasing birds was preferable.
"It is a danger to public health because the sellers and buyers come into contact with birds and bird droppings with none of the precautions that are taken with poultry, and the birds are then released into the environment," he said.
A study by a post-doctoral student last year estimated that between 500,000 and a million birds are imported for release every year, Professor Corlett said.
"[These birds] are mostly caught in China. They are not vaccinated, quarantined or inspected, and they were transported into Hong Kong in appallingly dirty and crowded conditions. Many of them are sick and injured," he said.
Virologist Paul Chan Kay-sheung, of Chinese University, said it would be unrealistic to ban the practice.
The discovery of H5 in a dead wild bird was "a warning signal", he said, "but the level of alertness is not as high as if we found some poultry outbreaks".
A permit must be obtained to import live birds into Hong Kong, said a spokesman for the government department. Some 77,000 birds were imported last year, about 96 per cent of them from the mainland, the spokesman said.
But infectious diseases specialist Lo Wing-lok said the department would not be able to ensure all birds sold in Hong Kong were licensed.
Dr Lo said it would be better if the government would "publicly denounce the practice of bird release" to put a stop to it.
Bird traders in the popular Bird Garden in Mong Kok interviewed yesterday said munias were not popular with pet-bird keepers. They denied such birds were usually bought for live release.
One bird seller, Ms Ho Ying, said: "We know birds. And we know how to handle them with care. They are our property and we would not do anything to make them sick."
Another, Chan Lok-choi, who sells birds and bird feed, accused the government and the media of sowing panic.
"You will die, I will die, and birds will die. It is only natural. There is no point making a fuss over the death of one bird," said Mr Chan. Author: Webcreeper Time: 6/01/2007 09:30
6/1/07 文匯 Wenwei
Pigeon dropping littered the pedestrian path at 29 Leighton Road, where the dead munia was found. Passers-by were used to the scene and frequent scare reports about bird flu.
Most shops at Bird Street, Mong Kok, claimed that they did not sell munias but only Japanese White-eyes and sparrows.
The Hong Kong Buddhist Association said birds were not used for religious release in recent years in view of bird flu, and that they would follow government policy to safeguard public health.
AFCD said releasing birds is not against the law but is not recommended. They have written to relevant organizations last year and understood that there is now no such release.
Of course releasing birds into the wild is not actually illegal in HK, as I said in an earlier post - not sure, why I put that - but of course it really should be on public health grounds and on environmental protection grounds.
With the Buddhist Association apparently backing the proposal I don't think there'd be any difficulty getting it passed.
AFCD's comment that they believe there are now no releases taking place because they've asked "relevant orgnaisations" not to, just shows what a complete waste of space they are.
Mike Turnbull Author: Webcreeper Time: 7/01/2007 09:32
7/1/07 明報 Mingpao
AFCD confirmed yesterday evening that the dead Scaly-breasted Munia tested positive for H5N1, the first in 2007.
Dr Lo Wing Lok, specialist in infectious diseases, commented that there may be cases in the New Territories through which the birds have passed but it was not necessary to start culling at this stage, strengthened monitoring, however, was required to detect any anomaly.
AFCD said social and religious groups have been reminded not to release birds. In response to earlier reports that there was no control over birds imported from mainland China, AFCD clarified that birds imported into Hong Kong via this route must come through two registered markets in Guangdong and supported by health certificates from official veterinarians to show that they have gone through quarantine and tested negative for H5N1.
