Replies to LegCo questions
LCQ16: Dead birds carrying H5N1 avian influenza virus
Following is a question by the Hon Lau Kong-wah and a written reply by the Secretary for Health, Welfare and Food, Dr York Chow, in the Legislative Council today (March 8):
Question:
As some of the carcasses of dead birds recently collected in various districts
have been confirmed to be carrying H5N1 avian influenza virus, will the
Government inform this Council:
(a) of the details of such cases in the past three months, including the species
of these birds, as well as when and where the carcasses were found;
(b) whether it will consider uploading the details of such cases onto the
Government web-site with daily updates for public information; and
(c) of the names and locations of the existing public and private parks where
birds are kept, and the respective numbers of birds by species in each of these
parks; whether these birds are segregated from humans, and whether faecal
testing for avian influenza virus is conducted regularly on these birds; if such
testing is conducted, of the details?
Reply:
Madam President,
(a) All the confirmed cases of H5N1 are listed in the Table.
(b) The Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) has uploaded
to its website (http://www.afcd.gov.hk/news/news_e.htm) information on all H5
positive cases of dead birds collected. The information will be updated
regularly. All press releases regarding the H5 positive cases have also been put
on the AFCD web site.
(c) Testing of park birds has been an integral part of AFCD's extensive avian
influenza (AI) surveillance and monitoring programme for many years. A total of
about 200 faecal samples from recreational parks are routinely submitted to AFCD
for AI testing every month. These parks include Leisure and Cultural Services
Department (LCSD) parks (including Hong Kong Park, Kowloon Park, Tuen Mun Park,
Yuen Long Park, Hong Kong Zoological and Botanical Gardens), Kadoorie Farm and
Botanic Garden and Ocean Park. In 2005, a total of 2 871 samples were tested
negative for highly pathogenic H5N1 virus.
The LCSD manages four major parks, namely Hong Kong Zoological and Botanical
Gardens, Hong Kong Park, Kowloon Park and Yuen Long Park, which together kept
around 1 500 birds (including 440 in the Zoological and Botanical Gardens, 630
in Hong Kong Park, 340 in Kowloon Park and 150 in Yuen Long Park). To prevent
avian influenza, the Department has temporarily closed the aviaries of these
four parks since February 2, 2006 in order to completely segregate the birds and
park visitors. The flamingos and cranes kept in open sheds in the Zoological and
Botanical Garden, flamingos and water fowls kept in the open bird lake of
Kowloon Park as well as the black-necked swans kept in the open bird lake of
Hong Kong Park have all been moved to closed cages or tents to avoid contact
with wild birds.
The LCSD always keeps a close watch on health of these kept birds. The senior
veterinary officers of the Department also closely monitor the health conditions
of the birds kept in these four gardens. During their weekly inspections of
these birds, samples of bird droppings are taken and sent to AFCD for tests on
avian influenza to ensure their health.
Ends/Wednesday, March 8, 2006
Issued at HKT 15:45
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Table on LCQ16