Source:
https://scmp.com/news/hong-kong/article/1227144/step-bird-flu-tests-chickens-hong-kong-health-expert-urges
Hong Kong

Step up bird flu tests on chickens, Hong Kong health expert urges

With rising risk of infection, health centre urges more checks on local poultry farms

An official with the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department holds a live chicken as another handles a blood sample for testing. Photo: Bloomberg

The Hong Kong government 's Centre for Health Protection yesterday recommended that tests for H7N9 bird flu on locally raised chickens be stepped up, with its experts seeing a rising risk of human infection.

Blood tests for H5 bird flu are conducted on locally raised chickens and if the results are positive, a rapid test for H7 on the samples is conducted. Results for a rapid test are ready in four to five hours. But the blood samples are taken 10 days before the poultry go to the market, so there are concerns that any infection that develops in those 10 days may not be found.