Hong Kong - Environmental sample from Mai Po Nature Reserve tests positive for H5N1 virus

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Environmental sample from Mai Po Nature Reserve tests positive for H5N1 virus
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The Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) was notified today (December 8) by the University of Hong Kong (HKU) that an environmental sample taken from the Mai Po Nature Reserve (MPNR) tested positive for H5N1 subtype highly pathogenic avian influenza virus.

A research team of the School of Public Health, HKU collects samples from the MPNR regularly for avian influenza surveillance. Among the environmental samples collected on December 6, a sample of faecal dropping has been confirmed to be positive for H5N1.

An AFCD spokesman said the World Wide Fund for Nature Hong Kong, the managing organisation of the MPNR, has stepped up cleansing and disinfection of tourist facilities including bird hides and floating boardwalk. Disinfectant carpet has been placed at the entrance of the MPNR for visitors to disinfect the soles of their shoes. In addition, the AFCD is closely monitoring the situation of the birds in the MPNR and has put up notices to remind visitors to pay attention to personal hygiene.

There are no chicken farms within three kilometres of the MPNR. Since winter set in, the AFCD has strengthened avian influenza surveillance and been closely monitoring the situation of the local poultry farms and wholesale market. Poultry farmers, pet bird shop owners, and licence holders of pet poultry and racing pigeons are reminded from time to time to ensure that proper precautions against avian influenza have been implemented.

"People should avoid contact with wild birds and live poultry and their droppings. They should clean their hands thoroughly after coming into contact with them. Members of the public can call 1823 for the AFCD's follow-up if they come across birds suspected to be sick or dead, including the carcasses of wild birds and poultry," the spokesman said.

The Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) will continue to be vigilant over live poultry stalls. It will also remind stall operators to maintain good hygiene.

The Department of Health will keep up with its health education to remind members of the public to maintain strict personal and environmental hygiene to prevent avian influenza.

The AFCD, the FEHD, the Customs and Excise Department and the Police will strive to deter the illegal import of poultry and birds into Hong Kong to minimise the risk of avian influenza outbreaks caused by imported poultry and birds that have not gone through inspection and quarantine.

All relevant government departments will continue to be highly vigilant and strictly enforce preventive measures against avian influenza. Health advice about preventing avian influenza is available on the AFCD website at www.afcd.gov.hk.

Ends/Friday, December 8, 2023
Issued at HKT 19:35
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https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202312/08/P2023120800586.htm

 

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Hong Kong - Influenza A viruses of high pathogenicity (Inf. with) (non-poultry including wild birds) (2017-) - Follow up report 1


GENERAL INFORMATION

COUNTRY/TERRITORY OR ZONE
COUNTRY/TERRITORY

ANIMAL TYPE
TERRESTRIAL

DISEASE CATEGORY
Listed disease

EVENT ID
5389

DISEASE
Influenza A viruses of high pathogenicity (Inf. with) (non-poultry including wild birds) (2017-)

CAUSAL AGENT
Highly pathogenic avian influenza virus

GENOTYPE / SEROTYPE / SUBTYPE
H5N1

START DATE
2023/12/06

REASON FOR NOTIFICATION
Recurrence of an eradicated strain

DATE OF LAST OCCURRENCE
2022/12/05

CONFIRMATION DATE
2023/12/08

EVENT STATUS
On-going

END DATE - SELF-DECLARATION

NO REPORT INFORMATION

REPORT NUMBER
Follow-up report 1

REPORT ID
FUR_164563

REPORT REFERENCE - REPORT DATE
2023/12/21

REPORT STATUS
Validated

NO EVOLUTION REPORT

EPIDEMIOLOGY

SOURCE OF EVENT OR ORIGIN OF INFECTION

• Unknown or inconclusive

EPIDEMIOLOGICAL COMMENTS
An intensive surveillance system is in place for avian influenza virus including screening at Mai Po Nature Reserve (Reserve) in Hong Kong. Among the environmental samples collected by the University of Hong Kong on 6 December 2023, a sample of wild bird fecal dropping has been confirmed to be positive for H5N1. Another sample of wild bird fecal dropping collected on 6 December 2023 was also confirmed to be positive for H5N1. A dead Eurasian Teal collected at the Reserve on 8 December 2023 was tested positive for H5N1. The organisation managing the reserve has stepped up cleaning and disinfection of visitor facilities. The government is closely monitoring the situation of the birds in the reserve. There are no poultry farm within 3 km of the reserve. The government has closely monitored the situation of the local poultry farms and wholesale market. Poultry farmers, pet bird shop owners and licensed holders of pet poultry and racing pigeons are reminded from time to time to ensure that proper precaution against avian influenza have been implemented.

QUANTITATIVE DATA SUMMARY

MEASURING UNIT
Animal
SpeciesSusceptibleCasesDeathsKilled and Disposed ofSlaughtered/ Killed for commercial useVaccinated Wildlife (species unspecified) (WILD)NEW------TOTAL-1---- Common Teal (WILD)NEW-11---TOTAL-11--- Falcated Duck (WILD)NEW-1----TOTAL-1---- All speciesNEW-21---TOTAL-31---

DIAGNOSTIC DETAILS

CLINICAL SIGNS
YES

METHOD OF DIAGNOSTIC
Diagnostic test

Virus isolation	Centre of Influenza Research, School of Public Health, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, University of Hong Kong	Common Teal,Falcated Duck	2	2023/12/20	2023/12/21	Positive
Gene sequencing	Centre of Influenza Research, School of Public Health, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, University of Hong Kong	Common Teal,Wildlife (species unspecified),Falcated Duck	3	2023/12/08	2023/12/21	Positive
Real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (rRT-PCR)	Centre of Influenza Research, School of Public Health, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, University of Hong Kong	Wildlife (species unspecified),Common Teal,Falcated Duck	3	2023/12/08	2023/12/21	Positive
Real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (rRT-PCR)	Tai Lung Veterinary Laboratory, Agriculture Fisheries and Conservation Department	Common Teal	1	2023/12/11	2023/12/11	Positive

​https://wahis.woah.org/#/in-review/5389

 

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Press Releases

Pin-tailed snipe and Eurasian teal carcasses confirmed to be positive for H5N1 virus

Thursday, December 28, 2023


Subsequent to announcing on December 21 that carcasses of a pin-tailed snipe and a Eurasian teal found in the Hong Kong Wetland Park in Tin Shui Wai preliminarily tested positive for the H5 avian influenza (AI) virus, the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) confirmed the carcasses to be positive for the H5N1 AI virus after further laboratory testing, a spokesman for the AFCD said today (December 28).

The bird carcasses were collected earlier at a mudflat in the Wetland Park.

The spokesman said cleaning and disinfection has been stepped up at the location where the dead birds were found in the Wetland Park. Notices have also been put up to remind visitors to pay attention to personal hygiene. The Wetland Park will keep a close watch on the situation of birds inside the Park.

One chicken farm is situated within 3 kilometres of where the dead birds were collected. The AFCD immediately informed the chicken farm concerned and no abnormal mortality or symptoms of avian influenza among the chicken flocks have been found so far. The AFCD will remind poultry farmers to strengthen precautionary and biosecurity measures against AI. Pet bird shop owners and licence holders of bird exhibitions will also be reminded to implement proper precautions against AI.

The spokesman said that the department will closely monitor poultry farms and the wholesale market to ensure that proper precautions against AI have been taken. The department will continue its wild bird monitoring and surveillance.

"People should avoid personal contact with wild birds and live poultry and their droppings. They should clean their hands thoroughly after coming into contact with them. The public can call 1823 for AFCD's follow-up if they come across birds suspected to be sick or dead, including the carcasses of wild birds and poultry," the spokesman said.

The Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) will continue to be vigilant over live poultry stalls. It will also remind stall operators to maintain good hygiene.

The Department of Health will keep up its health education to remind the public to maintain strict personal and environmental hygiene to prevent AI.

The AFCD, the FEHD, the Customs and Excise Department and the Police will strive to deter the illegal importation of poultry and birds into Hong Kong to minimise the risk of AI outbreaks caused by imported poultry and birds that have not gone through inspection and quarantine.

All relevant government departments will continue to be highly vigilant and strictly enforce preventive measures against AI. Health advice about preventing AI is available on the "Avian Influenza Health Advice" page at www.afcd.gov.hk.

Ends
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https://www.afcd.gov.hk/english/publications/publications_press/pr2953.html