Bird Flu Scare In Hong Kong

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Main Category: Flu / Cold / SARS
Article Date: 21 Dec 2011 - 19:00 PST

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Bird Flu virus was identified in a poultry market in Hong Kong, resulting in government officials ordering the slaughter of 17,000 chickens. It has been three years since the last mass culling.

York Chow, the Hong Kong secretary for food and health, said in a statement that the cull was a precautionary measure due to the highly pathogenic nature of the H5N1 avian influenza virus. The alert level was raised from "Alert" to "Serious"

The public are reminded to remain vigilant against avian influenza infection and try to adhere to the following precautions :

• Avoid direct contact with poultry and birds or their droppings; if contact is made, wash hands thoroughly with soap and water;
• Cook poultry and eggs thoroughly before eating;
• Wash hands frequently;
• Cover nose and mouth while sneezing or coughing, hold the spit with tissue and put it into a covered dustbin;
• Avoid crowded places and contact with sick people with fever;
• Wear a mask when you have respiratory symptoms or need to take care of patients with fever;
• When you have fever and influenza-like illnesses during a trip or when coming back to Hong Kong, consult doctors promptly and reveal your travel history.

The Hong Kong Centre for Health Protection (CHP) has called on members of the public to immediately seek medical attention if they develop symptoms of high fever or any influenza like illness. Public and Private hospitals have been alerted to pass any suspicious cases to the CHP. In addition the CHP has written to all Hong Kong physicians to inform them of the latest developments and put them on alert. Institutions, elderly homes and schools have been asked to be vigilant to any suspect illnesses.

So far, there have not been any human cases of the disease, and it is hoped that it was caught early enough not to be a problem. The memory remains fresh of Hong Kong's previous experiences of H5N1 flu and the SARS crisis in 2003 that killed 299.

Mr. Yuen said the territory has among the most stringent inspection standards at its poultry markets. All live birds that are not sold at markets must be slaughtered. The H5N1 virus spreads easily among birds and becomes more active during cooler periods of the year, said K.Y. Yuen, chairman of the microbiology department at the University of Hong Kong.

Between 10 and 20 dead wild birds are found across Hong Kong each year, containing the H5N1 virus. Usually they are migrating across the territory, Mr. Yuen said.:

"We have to be very cautious ... but there is no
need for panic."

In the 2008 alert, a 59 year old woman was hospitalized with H5N1, after returning from mainland China. The World Health Organisation figures show 573 infections and 336 deaths from this flu strain since 2003.

Written by Rupert Shepherd
Copyright: Medical News Today
Not to be reproduced without permission of Medical News Today

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