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Thursday, January 26, 2012

Hong Kong : Goose carcass found in Sham Tseng tests positive for H5N1 virus

Press release from Hong Kong's Centre for Health Protection :

" A spokesman for the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) said today (January 26) that a goose carcass found in Sham Tseng was confirmed to be H5N1 positive after laboratory testing.

The goose carcass was found and collected at Anglers' Beach, 13 milestone, Castle Peak Road, Sham Tseng, on January 20. It was highly decomposed when found and required a series of tests before H5N1 avian influenza was confirmed today.

The spokesman said there were no poultry farms within 3 kilometres of where the dead goose was found. AFCD staff have conducted inspections and found no evidence of any backyard poultry being kept there. AFCD will continue to monitor the situation and conduct inspections of the area.

In view of the case, the AFCD has phoned poultry farmers to remind them to strengthen precautionary and biosecurity measures against avian influenza. Letters have been issued to farmers, pet bird shop owners and licence holders of pet poultry and racing pigeons reminding them that proper precautions must be taken."

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