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The Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) today (November 30) conducted an exercise to test staff readiness and preparedness as well as the effectiveness of the department's contingency plan in dealing with an avian influenza outbreak.
About 400 staff members of the department participated in the annual drill which simulated an outbreak of avian influenza in a local poultry farm. To prevent the spread of the disease, the FEHD had to quickly carry out a large-scale culling of poultry in all live poultry retail outlets.
Some staff members in full protective gear were mobilised to carry out the mock culls in vacant stalls in three of the department's markets, namely Sai Ying Pun Market, Kwun Chung Market and Yeung Uk Road Market.
Communication between the command centre in FEHD headquarters and district environmental hygiene offices as well as internal coordination among different parties were also tested in the drill.
Ends/Friday, November 30, 2007
Issued at HKT 18:00
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