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The Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) conducted an exercise with the Centre for Health Protection (CHP) today (October 20) to examine the department's preparedness in case there was a culling operation in local poultry farms.
The exercise, codenamed Lily, provided a scenario for the concerned parties to familiarise themselves with the new preparation procedures and additional biosecurity measures for infected poultry farms.
"The exercise focused on the overall planning, preparation and implementation of culling operation," an AFCD spokesman said.
Two field command centres were opened for players to carry out all kinds of frontline duties, which included setting up different operation areas in the index farm, handling dummy chickens and disinfecting the premises, he added.
About 100 players took part in the exercise.
The spokesman reminded people that keeping backyard poultry was illegal and would increase the risk of an avian influenza outbreak.
Ends/Friday, October 20, 2006
Issued at HKT 18:26
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