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Pet bird stalls in Mong Kokˇ¦s Bird Garden are being closely monitored to prevent any outbreak of avian influenza among pet birds, a spokesman for the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) said today (February 20).
He said AFCD staff had found nothing abnormal despite daily inspections of stalls in the garden in Yuen Po Street.
ˇ§The stalls have been put under close surveillance. Collection of swab samples from the stalls has been increased to every three days from every five days,ˇ¨ the spokesman said.
ˇ§Traders and workers have been reminded to keep their stalls clean and to prevent contact between wild birds and the birds they have for sale,ˇ¨ the spokesman said.
More than 200 swab samples are collected from pet bird stalls, including those at Bird Garden, each month to test for avian flu viruses. So far, all results have been negative.
A special permit must be obtained from the AFCD to import live pet birds into Hong Kong. The department only issues permits to consignments from countries where there is no evidence or suspicion of highly pathogenic avian influenza being present.
The spokesman said birds to be imported must undergo at least 14 days pre-export quarantine and be tested for H5 and H7 during the quarantine period before shipment.
ˇ§The birds must be examined by an official veterinarian and certified as free of evidence of infectious disease before shipment,ˇ¨ he said.
The public should observe personal and environmental hygiene, and avoid contact with sick birds and their droppings. Guidelines on bird management are available on the AFCD website at www.afcd.gov.hk, including the following:
* Birds should be kept indoors in cages at all times to avoid any direct contact with outside birds.
* When taking pet birds out of the premises where they are kept, cover the bird cage properly with a piece of cloth.
* When touching the birds or handling their droppings, one should wear waterproof gloves, mask and work clothes (such as task-specific apron). Wash face and hands completely before and after such contact.
Ends/Monday, February 20, 2006
Issued at HKT 20:19
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