Hong Kong Avian Influenza Prevention Measures Successful

Local experts from the University of Hong Kong and the World’s Poultry Science Association Hong Kong Branch agree that Hong Kong has remained avian influenza free due to the intense and successful avian influenza surveillance and control program.

This program, which is unrivalled in the region, spared Hong Kong from an outbreak of avian influenza in the poultry population when a number of its neighbours had already fallen prey to this highly pathogenic virus.

After meeting with the experts, the Hong Kong Secretary for Health, Welfare and Food, Dr Yeoh Eng-kiong, said that "avian influenza has become endemic and that it is most likely to return next year and beyond.” 

The group discussed some broad principles with regard to risk management of avian influenza, including:

• imposition of more stringent bio-security measures in order to achieve and maintain zero transmission of H5 virus in farms

• reducing as much as possible contact between the public and live poultry in vulnerable spots such as wholesale and retail markets

• resumption of chilled and frozen poultry meat from approved Mainland farms 

Dr Yeoh said, “We learned from our past experience that our defense line is long and vulnerable to possible viral attacks. The constructive comments and suggestions put forth by the experts today are most valuable references to our improving the monitoring system.”


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