Closures enforced after chickens from three more wet markets test positive for H5N1
Hong Kong moved to stop what could be its biggest threat from bird flu since 1997, after chickens from three more wet markets in different districts tested positive for the killer H5N1 virus yesterday.
Some 3,500 chickens were being culled from 260 stalls; all 64 wet markets were shut; and chicken products at 209 fresh provision shops were surrendered.
A 21-day ban on imports of fresh mainland chickens and birds from local farms to the central Cheung Sha Wan wholesaler, imposed on Saturday, might be further extended.
Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department assistant director Thomas Sit Hon-chung said yesterday there were new positive samples from Luen Wo Hui market in Fanling, Yan Oi Street market in Tuen Mun, Ap Lei Chau market and also at the Po On Road market in Sham Shui Po, where positive samples were found on Saturday.
The cull and closures came hours after Secretary for Food and Health York Chow Yat-ngok denied the government had lacked the political will to order a wider cull after 2,700 birds were killed at the Sham Shui Po market on Saturday.
Wet markets have been cleaned, their numbers reduced and remodelled in recent years after bird flu outbreaks in 1997, 2001, 2002 and 2003.
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