H5N1 virus

Checks will be increased on waterfowl in Guangdong after the discovery of the new H5N1 virus, a mainland official said last night.

Tang Quizhang, vice-director of Shenzhen Animal and Plant Quarantine Bureau, said his office was concerned about the find and would report to the Beijing headquarters soon.

'We don't want Hong Kong people to lose their confidence [in eating poultry] again. We will spare no effort to work with the Agriculture and Fisheries Department to improve our surveillance,' he said.