Press Releases
SFH on avian influenza
Following is the transcript of remarks (English portion) made by the
Secretary for Food and Health, Dr York Chow, at a media session after
chairing the meeting of the Steering Committee on Avian Influenza this
afternoon (December 23):
Reporter: (On the origin of the dead chicken.)
Secretary for Food and Health: According to the information gathered from
the Mainland, they do not have any abnormality in the Mainland farms that
supply chickens to Hong Kong. So we cannot conclude whether this was a
chicken that came from the Mainland or from Hong Kong. But in all aspects,
we have checked all the farms in Hong Kong, we have checked all the places
that would have chickens in Hong Kong. We have excluded any outbreaks of
infection, both in local farms as well as in the farms that supply
(chickens) to Hong Kong from the Mainland. At this stage, I can only say
that we are safer than what we suspected earlier on. But the avian flu
season, particularly for wild birds, is still going on, the chance of wild
birds infecting chickens can happen anytime. So the vigilance in both local
and Mainland farms needs to be maintained.
Reporter: (On whether the dead chicken was infected by wild birds.)
Secretary for Food and Health: We cannot exclude that possibility. Since the
chicken already died, we cannot exclude whether the vaccination done for the
chickens is appropriate or not. This is an isolated case, we just make sure
that there is no other cases relating to this one.
Reporter: (On placing tag on feet of the chickens.)
Secretary for Food and Health: At one point of time, I think a few years
ago, when we faced outbreak of avian flu in Hong Kong, we were discussing
whether we should have tags in the chicken feet so that we can identify
which farm or area it comes from. The farmers are not necessarily very
agreeable to that because it will incur extra costs and labour. We also
think that this might give the chickens extra discomfort, particularly
during the whole process of transportation from the farm to the market. That
might cause more problems and issues during the whole course. So we have to
be very careful about the decision we make. What we have decided right now
is to ensure that any dead chickens that are found in the wholesale market
will be reported to the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD)
staff on duty right away, so that the AFCD can identify the particular
supplier and source of origin of the chicken. This would be able to help us
identify in case we have another incident.
(Please also refer to the
Chinese portion of the transcript)
Ends/Friday, December 23, 2011
Issued at HKT 20:00
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