Press Releases
SFH on confirmed human case of avian influenza A(H7N9) in Guangdong Province
Following is the transcript of remarks made by the Secretary for
Food and Health, Dr Ko Wing-man, after attending a public function
this afternoon (August 11):
Reporter: (On the confirmed human case of avian influenza A(H7N9) in
Guangdong Province)
Secretary for Food and Health: The Chinese Center for Disease
Control and Prevention has formally confirmed a positive human case
of avian influenza A(H7N9) in Huizhou, Guangdong Province. With
Guangdong Province having a confirmed human case, the threat or
challenge to Hong Kong must not be overlooked. We will be stepping
up all surveillance measures, as well as control measures against
H7N9.
Reporter: (On follow-up actions with the confirmed human case of
avian influenza A(H7N9) in Guangdong Province)
Secretary for Food and Health: There is an existing understanding
between Hong Kong and the Mainland authorities, which is in
accordance with recommendations by the OIE (World Organisation for
Animal Health). That is, if there is any place in the Mainland China
with a positive H7N9 infection in poultry established, all poultry
farms or processing plants for chilled or frozen meat of poultry
within a radius of 13 kilometres from that particular place, we will
temporarily suspend the import to Hong Kong.
Reporter: (On whether there is any farm near the affected place this
time)
Secretary for Food and Health: The Centre for Food Safety has
confirmed that as far as this particular case is concerned, there is
no poultry farm supplying live chickens to Hong Kong within a radius
of 13 kilometres from the infected point.
Reporter: Are you saying that we should be at ease?
Secretary for Food and Health: No. I think with Guangdong Province
formally being involved and having a confirmed human case, the
challenge to Hong Kong is very serious. We will step up all
surveillance and control measures against H7N9.
I will be leaving for Beijing this evening to discuss (issues under
my purview) with the Mainland authorities, namely the State
Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine; the CFDA (China Food
and Drug Administration); the Ministry of Commerce; as well as the
AQSIQ (State General Administration of Quality Supervision,
Inspection and Quarantine), which is responsible for the control of
biosafety in terms of poultry. I will seek to reflect to the
Ministry of Commerce the discussion recently in Hong Kong regarding
the price of beef supply, and hope to establish a consensus and move
forward towards opening up the market of live cattle supply to Hong
Kong. In the discussion with the CFDA and AQSIQ, we will also seek
to improve the collaboration in the areas of drug and food safety,
as well as the control (measures) against H7N9.
(Please also refer to the
Chinese portion of the transcript.)
Ends/Sunday, August 11, 2013
Issued at HKT 22:14
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