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The Secretary for the Environment and Food, Mrs. Lily Yam, clarified today (February 6) in a radio programme that tests findings available at the moment showed that the virus is an H5 virus.

She said : "The Administration will make known to the public as soon as possible any information they have obtained. As I said last night, the avian flu virus was initially detected in a wholesale market, which was traced back to a farm in Kam Tin. Up to the present, we can only confirm that it is a H5 virus, but we are not certain which H5 it is or whether it is the N1 virus. We will find out about this later, and as I said on Monday, this will take about a week. "

"I have explained that even if it were H5N1, there are many types of H5N1 viruses. The one which affected human beings is H5N1-97. It was agreed during the expert meeting held yesterday that even if it were H5N1, it was not be the one that affect human beings. " She added.

"It is reported today that academics of the University of Hong Kong already found that the virus H5N1. I believe that there is a little confusion. Under the present regulatory system, faecal samples and samples of dead chickens are regularly taken. Last month, we had 2 or 3 samples which showed the virus of H5N1, but not the type of 97 that affected human beings. I hope this can clarify the present situation. Next week, we shall know which type of H5 virus is involved in the farm this time."

End/Wednesday, February 6, 2002

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