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The Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) today (October 29) said the chance of house crows transmitting avian influenza viruses is very low, as the test results of more than 100 samples over the past two years were all negative and the species seldom mixes with waterbirds.
A department spokesman said a scheme launched since 2004 to monitor and control house crows, which being an exotic invasive species, had been successful.
¡§With the implementation of different measures including anaesthetic baiting and the removal of eggs and chicks, the local house crow population has stablised at less than 300¡¨, he said.
¡§We will continue to deploy effective measures to reduce their number and thus their impact on the local ecology and environment.¡¨
Over the past two years, the department has tested more than 100 swab and carcass samples of house crows for highly pathogenic avian flu viruses, all showing negative results.
¡§According to our observation, house crows seldom mix and mingle with waterbirds, which are relatively high-risk carriers of pathogenic avian flu viruses,¡¨ the spokesman said.
¡§As such, the chance of house crows transmitting the viruses is considered minimal.¡¨
The spokesman urged the public to observe good personal hygiene and avoid contact with wild birds and their droppings.
¡§Feeding of wild birds is highly undesirable. It will change their eating habits, attracting them to gather at certain locations and creating environmental nuisance,¡¨ he said.
The spokesman also appealed to the public not to release live birds for whatever purposes.
¡§The released birds might not be fit to live in the wild and are very likely to die shortly afterwards,¡¨ he said.
Ends/Saturday, October 29, 2005
Issued at HKT 13:48
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