Bird expert warns of avian flu hazard at Mong Kok market

Flocks of white-backed munia were still flying around and eating freely in the Mong Kok caged-bird market a day after a dead one found nearby tested positive for H5 bird flu.

Bird Watching Society chairman Cheung Ho-fai said it was extraordinary that so many white-backed munia were in the Yuen Po Street Bird Garden because munia usually live in the countryside. He said people might have released them.

'Some people or bird-shop owners might have released the birds in the garden because they were worried about avian influenza. There is lots of bird feed there.

'This can be very dangerous with so many birds together, especially after a bird was found to have H5 flu recently. If one of them falls ill, it can quickly infect the others.'

Mr Cheung suggested there could be an outbreak of the flu in the garden, and called for surveillance of birds in the area to be increased. However, Secretary for Health, Welfare and Food York Chow Yat-ngok said this was unnecessary, adding that it was difficult to determine where the birds came from.

Bird-shop owners denied releasing the munia. One vendor, surnamed Chu, said they might have been released by others and had flown to the garden for food. He said white-backed munia were common birds that Buddhists released to receive a blessing. They sold for about HK$5 each.