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HKSARG and Mainland authorities held meeting to strengthen prevention and control of H7 avian influenza (April 8 2013)
[Source: Government of Hong Kong PRC SAR, full text: (LINK).]
HKSARG and Mainland authorities held meeting to strengthen prevention and control of H7 avian influenza
Representatives of the Food and Health Bureau, the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department, and the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department of Hong Kong held an urgent meeting with representatives of the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine (AQSIQ), representatives of the entry-exit inspection and quarantine authorities of Guangdong, Shenzhen, Zhuhai and Hainan, as well as the Macao SARG in Zhuhai on April 7, 2013.
The meeting has been called to formulate concerted responses to the H7N9 avian influenza (AI) outbreak in humans in the eastern region of the Mainland, including ensuring the safety of live poultry and poultry products supplied to Hong Kong.
The participants have assessed the prevailing situation and exchanged information on the preventive and control measures against H7N9 AI that have been or are being put in place.
The meeting also discussed measures for further protecting the safety and hygiene of live poultry and poultry products supplied to Hong Kong.
The AQSIQ and the relevant entry-exit inspection and quarantine authorities have taken vigorous measures to prevent AI.
At present, all live poultry and poultry products bound for Hong Kong would have been tested against H7 AI beforehand.
Only those which have passed the test would be issued a health certificate for export to Hong Kong.
Since 2010, the relevant entry-exit inspection and quarantine authorities have tested a total of 570 000 specimens for AI, covering both H5 and H7 AI antigens. All results were negative.
To strengthen the preventive and control measures against H7 AI, the meeting agreed to immediately step up surveillance in live poultry and poultry products bound for Hong Kong, by increasing the sample size and the frequency of farm inspections.
The meeting also discussed and reached consensus on various issues including the development of other testing methods, surveillance frequency, validation of testing standards and results, and provision of technical training.
Besides, Hong Kong will start shortly to conduct tests against H7 AI in imported live poultry upon their entry at the Man Kam To Control Point.
Currently, Hong Kong has a standing practice of conducting H7 AI surveillance in dead wild birds, as well as specimens taken from local chicken farms, poultry wholesale market and retail outlets. In the past three years, over 18 000 dead birds and over 15 000 specimens from poultry and the environment had been tested for H7 AI. No H7 AI had been detected so far.
The Hong Kong representatives have also informed the Mainland authorities that in the event that there is any poultry AI infection case in Hong Kong (covering both H5 and H7 AI cases), Hong Kong would undertake culling operations as necessary in accordance with the advice of the World Organisation for Animal Health .
Hong Kong would also suspend the import of live poultry and conduct thorough cleansing of sites concerned in order to minimise the risk of a major AI outbreak in Hong Kong.
The Government would continue to liaise closely with the relevant Mainland authorities and will keep them immediately informed of H7 AI cases, if any. Hong Kong would also step up preventive and surveillance measures against H7 AI.
Representatives of the Food and Health Bureau, the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department, and the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department of Hong Kong held an urgent meeting with representatives of the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine (AQSIQ), representatives of the entry-exit inspection and quarantine authorities of Guangdong, Shenzhen, Zhuhai and Hainan, as well as the Macao SARG in Zhuhai on April 7, 2013.
The meeting has been called to formulate concerted responses to the H7N9 avian influenza (AI) outbreak in humans in the eastern region of the Mainland, including ensuring the safety of live poultry and poultry products supplied to Hong Kong.
The participants have assessed the prevailing situation and exchanged information on the preventive and control measures against H7N9 AI that have been or are being put in place.
The meeting also discussed measures for further protecting the safety and hygiene of live poultry and poultry products supplied to Hong Kong.
The AQSIQ and the relevant entry-exit inspection and quarantine authorities have taken vigorous measures to prevent AI.
At present, all live poultry and poultry products bound for Hong Kong would have been tested against H7 AI beforehand.
Only those which have passed the test would be issued a health certificate for export to Hong Kong.
Since 2010, the relevant entry-exit inspection and quarantine authorities have tested a total of 570 000 specimens for AI, covering both H5 and H7 AI antigens. All results were negative.
To strengthen the preventive and control measures against H7 AI, the meeting agreed to immediately step up surveillance in live poultry and poultry products bound for Hong Kong, by increasing the sample size and the frequency of farm inspections.
The meeting also discussed and reached consensus on various issues including the development of other testing methods, surveillance frequency, validation of testing standards and results, and provision of technical training.
Besides, Hong Kong will start shortly to conduct tests against H7 AI in imported live poultry upon their entry at the Man Kam To Control Point.
Currently, Hong Kong has a standing practice of conducting H7 AI surveillance in dead wild birds, as well as specimens taken from local chicken farms, poultry wholesale market and retail outlets. In the past three years, over 18 000 dead birds and over 15 000 specimens from poultry and the environment had been tested for H7 AI. No H7 AI had been detected so far.
The Hong Kong representatives have also informed the Mainland authorities that in the event that there is any poultry AI infection case in Hong Kong (covering both H5 and H7 AI cases), Hong Kong would undertake culling operations as necessary in accordance with the advice of the World Organisation for Animal Health .
Hong Kong would also suspend the import of live poultry and conduct thorough cleansing of sites concerned in order to minimise the risk of a major AI outbreak in Hong Kong.
The Government would continue to liaise closely with the relevant Mainland authorities and will keep them immediately informed of H7 AI cases, if any. Hong Kong would also step up preventive and surveillance measures against H7 AI.
Ends/Monday, April 8, 2013
Issued at HKT 10:00
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Issued at HKT 10:00
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