Hong Kong - Chilled chicken sample from mainland China vendor positive for HP H5N6 bird flu virus - January 23, 2018

[Gert van der Hoek]

Chicken sample from Hong Kong vendor positive for bird flu virus, as officials urge calm after its sale


Food safety authority says ?very slim? chance of infection if product properly handled



Tuesday, 23 January, 2018

A chilled chicken sample from mainland China found to contain a bird flu virus was confirmed on Tuesday to have been sold by a Hong Kong vendor, but officials stressed the contamination was unlikely to sicken consumers.

A spokesman for the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department announced that the H5 virus, which can cause the respiratory disease avian influenza, was detected in a sample obtained from a batch of chilled chicken at a fresh provision shop in Mong Kok.
The shop is located on Canton Road and near Nam Tau Street.

But the public is being told infection is unlikely if the meat was properly handled.

?Since avian influenza virus in the carcass ... will not multiply, the chance of contracting [the disease] through properly treated chilled poultry meat is very slim,? he added.

Department officers earlier collected throat swabs from the batch to test for avian flu. The chicken was produced on January 15, and the department did not disclose when the sample was taken.

“Investigations showed that only chilled poultry was sold by the premises concerned and no sale of live poultry was found,” the spokesman said. “The affected batch of chilled chickens was sold out.”

[sharon sanders]

government confirmation:

CHP urges public to be cautious in handling chilled poultry to guard against avian influenza
************************************************** ***********************


The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health today (January 23) urged the public to stay alert against avian influenza amid the recent detection of the H5 virus in an oropharyngeal swab sample from a batch of chilled chickens.

People who have recently handled chilled chickens imported from the Mainland processing plant Huidong County Baishisheng Agricultural Co Ltd (production date: January 15, 2018) and develop fever or respiratory symptoms within seven days are advised to seek medical advice immediately and inform their doctor of this exposure history.

According to an announcement by the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department today, samples were taken earlier from a batch of chilled chickens at a fresh provision shop in Mong Kok for testing of avian influenza. The H5 virus was detected from an oropharyngeal swab.

The CHP reminded the public to avoid handling the affected batch of chilled chickens. Those who are uncertain whether the chilled chicken belonged to the affected batch should refer to the external package for information about the processing plant and the production date or enquire with the retailer/shop.

Meanwhile, the CHP has initiated medical surveillance for the staff concerned and other known contacts, and will prescribe the antiviral Tamiflu prophylaxis to them if necessary. The CHP has also stepped up surveillance for possible human cases. Letters will be sent to doctors and hospitals today urging them to report any suspected cases.

To protect themselves from avian influenza, people handling chilled poultry or poultry carcasses are reminded to observe strict personal and hand hygiene. They should never touch the mouth, nose or eyes when handling any poultry, poultry products or eggs. Afterwards, they must wash their hands thoroughly with liquid soap and water.

If handling live poultry, poultry products or eggs, the public should maintain strict personal, hand, food and environmental hygiene and take heed of the advice below:

• Avoid touching poultry, birds, animals or their droppings;
• When buying live chickens, do not touch them and their droppings. Do not blow at their bottoms. Wash eggs with detergent if soiled with faecal matter and cook and consume the eggs immediately. Always wash hands thoroughly with soap and water after handling chickens and eggs;
• Cook poultry meat, poultry products or eggs thoroughly before consumption as high temperatures can kill avian influenza viruses; and
• Clean thoroughly all working surfaces, utensils and equipment that have been used for handling poultry products or eggs. Use separate knives and chopping boards to handle raw food and ready-to-eat food. Keep raw poultry meat in a well-covered container and store it in the lower compartment of a refrigerator while keeping ready-to-eat and cooked food in the upper compartment to avoid cross-contamination.

For more information, the public may visit the CHP's page on avian influenza.
Ends/Tuesday, January 23, 2018
Issued at HKT 17:15

http://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/201801/23/P2018012300717.htm

[sharon sanders]

This is really important because mainland China officials have been trying to change the culture from live poultry sales to chilled chicken purchases instead. The justification of the government to move the population from their preferred live chicken purchases is that chilled chicken is safe from avian flu.

[Pathfinder]

H5 virus detected in chilled chicken sample taken from fresh provision shop in Mong Kok A spokesman for the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) said today (January 23) that the department earlier took oropharyngeal swabs from a batch of chilled chicken (production date January 15, 2018) at a fresh provision shop in Mong Kok to test for avian influenza (AI). The Veterinary Laboratory of the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department confirmed that H5 virus was detected in one sample. The spokesman said, "Upon learning the test results, the FEHD immediately stepped up its inspection of the premises concerned, and requested it to carry out thorough cleaning and disinfection, and provided health education to the staff. Investigations showed that only chilled poultry was sold by the premises and no sale of live poultry was found. The affected batch of chilled chickens had been sold out. Since AI virus on the carcass of chilled poultry will not multiply, the chance of contracting AI through properly treated chilled poultry meat is very slim. "The FEHD has also verified the source of the affected products according to the information on the package and instructed the trade to suspend procurement or sale of chilled chickens from the Mainland processing plant concerned, Huidong County Baishisheng Agricultural Co Ltd. The department has invited the Mainland authorities concerned to assist in the investigation and will step up surveillance of poultry in light of the incident." The spokesman advised the public to pay extra attention to personal hygiene when handling chilled poultry. They should never touch the mouth, nose, or eyes when handling any poultry, poultry products or eggs and should wash hands thoroughly with liquid soap and water afterwards. In addition, as high temperatures can kill AI virus, they should cook poultry meat thoroughly before consumption. The Government will continue to stay vigilant and strictly carry out risk management measures. The FEHD will also mount joint operations with the Hong Kong Customs to step up enforcement against illegal import of chilled poultry meat, and maintain liaison with the Mainland authorities concerned and suitably adjust relevant measures with regard to the latest developments of AI so as to safeguard public health and environmental hygiene. Ends/Tuesday, January 23, 2018 http://www.fehd.gov.hk/english/news/details/20180123_1254.html

[Pathfinder]

Translation Google

Guangdong Pepsi chilled fresh chicken to detect bird flu

2018-01-24

Hong Kong Wen Wei Po News (Reporter Lu Jingyi in Guangzhou) Samples of chilled chicken in Mong Kok were detected for the H5 bird flu virus. The Food and Environmental Hygiene Department found that the chilled chicken that detected the bird flu virus came from the Pepsi Shing Farming and animal husbandry Co., Ltd. A spokesman for the department said it would invite relevant Mainland authorities to assist in the investigation.

Information shows that 80% of the chilled poultry supplied from the Mainland come from Guangdong. As of 2017, there are 14 chilled and frozen poultry processing enterprises in Guangdong with 132 bases. For Hong Kong food, Guangdong requires enterprises from soil and water testing, the purchase of agricultural inputs, planting and breeding to product acceptance, processing, testing, flow should be clearly recorded. The incident, Guangdong Exit Inspection and Quarantine Bureau staff said it had received the message, need to understand the situation before making a response.

Employees can not tell if they have not replied

The chilled chickens that have detected the bird flu virus came from Pepsi Shengnong Animal Husbandry Co., Ltd. of Huidong County. The company said it was not clear about the company's supply of chilled chickens with chickens in Hong Kong. The staff members told the person in charge of the situation about the situation and will reply later. However, when the reporter re-called the company, the phone has been in a state of no answer.

Pepsi Sheng was established in 2007, is a collection broiler breeding, processing, marketing, import and export trade as one of the private enterprises.

http://paper.wenweipo.com/2018/01/24/HK1801240029.htm

[Pathfinder]

Highly pathogenic avian influenza, Hong Kong (SAR - PRC)

Information received on 01/02/2018 from Dr Thomas Sit, Chief Veterinary Officer / Assistant Director (Inspection & Quarantine), Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government, Hong Kong , Hong Kong (SAR - PRC)

Summary Report type Immediate notification Date of start of the event 18/01/2018 Date of confirmation of the event 22/01/2018 Report date 29/01/2018 Date submitted to OIE 01/02/2018 Reason for notification Recurrence of a listed disease Date of previous occurrence 21/12/2017 Manifestation of disease Sub-clinical infection Causal agent Highly pathogenic avian influenza virus Serotype H5N6 Nature of diagnosis Laboratory (advanced) This event pertains to the whole country

New outbreaks (1)

Outbreak 1 Nam Tau St & Canton Rd, Mong Kok, Yau Tsim Mong District, HONG KONG Date of start of the outbreak 18/01/2018 Outbreak status Resolved (18/01/2018) Epidemiological unit Other Affected animals Species Susceptible Cases Deaths Killed and disposed of Slaughtered Birds 1 0 0 0 Affected population A sample of oropharyngeal swabs from imported chilled chickens was collected from a fresh provision shop on 18 January 2018.

Summary of outbreaks Total outbreaks: 1 Total animals affected Species Susceptible Cases Deaths Killed and disposed of Slaughtered Birds 1 0 0 0 Outbreak statistics Species Apparent morbidity rate Apparent mortality rate Apparent case fatality rate Proportion susceptible animals lost* Birds ** ** 0.00% ** *Removed from the susceptible population through death, destruction and/or slaughter **Not calculated because of missing information

Epidemiology Source of the outbreak(s) or origin of infection Unknown or inconclusive Epidemiological comments An intensive avian influenza surveillance system is in place for all poultry farms, poultry markets, and pet bird shops in Hong Kong. No spread of disease was evident.

Control measures Measures applied Screening Traceability Disinfection Vaccination permitted (if a vaccine exists) No treatment of affected animals Measures to be applied No other measures

Diagnostic test results Laboratory name and type Species Test Test date Result Tai Lung Veterinary Laboratory, Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (National laboratory) Birds virus isolation 22/01/2018 Positive Centre of Influenza Research, School of Public Health, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, University of Hong Kong (Regional Reference Laboratory) Birds gene sequencing Pending National Influenza Centre, Centre for Health Protection, Department of Health (Regional Reference Laboratory) Birds gene sequencing 26/01/2018 Positive

Future Reporting The event is continuing. Weekly follow-up reports will be submitted.

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http://www.oie.int/wahis_2/public/wahid.php/Reviewreport/Review?page_refer=MapFullEventReport&reportid=25693