Government Press Release
http://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/200803/16/P200803160174.htm
MoA confirms H5N1 avian influenza in Liwan, Guangzhou
*****************************************************
The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSARG) has been notified by the Ministry of Agriculture that the death of chickens in a poultry retail market in Liwan, Guangzhou was a confirmed case of H5N1 avian influenza infection, a spokesman for the Food and Health Bureau said today (March 16).
“Upon the confirmation of the case, the HKSARG will adopt corresponding measure by suspending the import of live birds, live poultry and poultry products from the zone of 13-kilometre radius of the infected area for 21 days. We come to the decision after making reference to the guidelines set by the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations and the World Organisation for Animal Health and assessing the control and prevention of avian influenza as well as the related inspection and quarantine measures in Guangdong Province.
“The import suspension measure is a precautionary measure. Our primary objective is to safeguard public health,” the spokesman said.
The Guangdong Entry-Exit Inspection and Quarantine Bureau (GDCIQ) had verified that there are no registered live poultry farms or processing plants for supplying chilled and frozen poultry meat to Hong Kong in the zone of 13-kilometre radius of the infected area.
There are, however, two pet bird farms within the zone of 13-kilometre radius of the infected area. The HKSARG will suspend the import of live birds from these two pet bird farms for 21 days in accordance with the corresponding measure mentioned above. The Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) will continue to strictly enforce inspection and quarantine measures on imported pet birds.
Welcome to HKBWS Forum 香港觀鳥會討論區 (http://hkbws.org.hk/BBS/)
