Hong Kong (HKSAR) - A spokesman for the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) said today (June 5) that under the routine surveillance programme for avian influenza (AI) at markets and fresh provision shops which is commissioned by the department and conducted by the University of Hong Kong, a sample of faecal droppings of live poultry taken from a poultry stall in Yan Oi Market in Tuen Mun on May 16 was tested positive yesterday (June 4) of the H7N9 avian influenza virus. The Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) will declare the live poultry stalls at Yan Oi Market in Tuen Mun as an infected place which will be closed for thorough disinfection and cleansing.
The spokesman said, "There are two poultry stalls in Yan Oi Market and there is no sample from the other stall tested positive of H7N9 virus. The affected stall sells live poultry, including live chickens and pigeons.
The FEHD, upon receiving the test result, has immediately conducted thorough cleansing and disinfection at the two stalls and is tracing the source of the poultry."
In accordance with the contingency plan for detection of AI virus in Hong Kong, trading of live poultry will be suspended pending follow-up investigations to trace the source of the virus.
Supply of chickens from local farms have been suspended. The AFCD will conduct inspection on all local chicken farms and collect samples for AI testing in order to ascertain that none of the local farms or chickens have been infected with AI. Import of live poultry will also be suspended.
The AFCD will continue with the surveillance and monitoring of local chicken farms.
The spokesman said, "There are two poultry stalls in Yan Oi Market and there is no sample from the other stall tested positive of H7N9 virus. The affected stall sells live poultry, including live chickens and pigeons.
The FEHD, upon receiving the test result, has immediately conducted thorough cleansing and disinfection at the two stalls and is tracing the source of the poultry."
In accordance with the contingency plan for detection of AI virus in Hong Kong, trading of live poultry will be suspended pending follow-up investigations to trace the source of the virus.
Supply of chickens from local farms have been suspended. The AFCD will conduct inspection on all local chicken farms and collect samples for AI testing in order to ascertain that none of the local farms or chickens have been infected with AI. Import of live poultry will also be suspended.
The AFCD will continue with the surveillance and monitoring of local chicken farms.
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