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Strategy to control avian influenza explained to trade

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The mainstay of measures to deal with avian influenza should be heightened farm biosecurity, stringent hygienic practices in farms and markets and an effective surveillance system, the Secretary for Health, Welfare and Food, Dr Yeoh Eng-kiong reiterated today (January 17).

At a meeting with representatives of chicken breeders and livestock industry led by Legislative Council member the Hon Wong Yung-kan, Dr Yeoh explained that with the existence of different types of avian influenza and the disease's great propensity for mutation, vaccination could be used in containing outbreaks but should not be seen as the only and ultimate solution to tackle the disease.

"This strategy is internationally recognised and is shared by members of the Expert Working Group on Avian Influenza when they recently reviewed the interim results of the trial of vaccination.

"I was encouraged by the positive response of the trade, their recognition of the importance in keeping a high standard of hygiene in their farms, and their preparedness to take action towards this end," he said.

Dr Yeoh told the meeting that there are a number of issues relating to vaccination that need to be resolved before a decision on a comprehensive vaccination programme can be made.

"These include the effectiveness of vaccination in our endemic environment, means to monitor the mutation of the virus and the surveillance system to detect infection of vaccinated chickens from field virus.

"Our trial on vaccination is scheduled to be evaluated in April this year. However, in view of the changing situation, we shall analyse the data collected so far from the trial scheme, taking into account the recent outbreaks in recreational parks, markets and farms, and consider whether there should be an early evaluation on the way forward," he said.

As for the timing of the trial scheme, the meeting noted that it was not until 2001 that validated scientific work conducted using commercially available vaccines against Hong Kong H5N1 field strains, including challenge trials and data on virus excretion in experimentally challenged chickens were published formally by the United States Department of Agriculture.

It would have been irresponsible action on the part of the Government to promote untried vaccine without sufficient supporting data.

On the biosecurity at the farms, Dr Yeoh pointed out that upgrading the standard was very important because once the disease was introduced into a farm either by humans or by birds, it would spread quickly and affect other birds.

"As long as we have live birds in Hong Kong, the risk of avian influenza will exist. The recent incidents of avian influenza outbreaks in recreational parks, detection of the disease in wild birds and infection of two local farms have all pointed to the need for upgrading the biosecurity standard of local farms to the highest standard.

"Chicken farmers and market stall holders must join us in the combat against the disease by keeping their places hygienic," Dr Yeoh said.

He also explained to the trade that because of the endemic nature of avian influenza in Hong Kong, depopulation is no longer the only course of action to take in the event of an outbreak.

"In the event that individual farmers have encountered financial difficulties, the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department stands ready to provide assistance by making use of the existing loan scheme to tie them over a difficult period," Dr Yeoh said.

End/Friday, January 17, 2003

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