Japan : 112,000 chickens culled at Kumamoto farms in bid to curb bird flu outbreak

Via Japan Times :

" Racing to contain an avian flu outbreak, about 400 workers culled 112,000 birds at two Kumamoto chicken farms from Sunday night through Monday morning.

After bagging up live chickens, the workers, including 200 Ground Self-Defense Force personnel, gassed them with carbon dioxide and buried them at the two farms, one in the town of Taragi and the other in the village of Sagara.

At least 1,100 chickens at the Taragi farm were apparently struck down by an H5-type avian flu virus between Friday and Sunday morning.

The Kumamoto Prefectural Government ordered 56,000 chickens culled at the Taragi farm and another 56,000 at the nearby farm in Sagara, run by the same operator."

China : More Dutch poultry banned

Article via China.org :

" The Centre for Food Safety has banned poultry product imports from Groningen in the Netherlands due to an avian influenza outbreak.

The World Organisation for Animal Health notified the centre of the low-pathogenic H5 avian influenza outbreak today.

About 14,000 tonnes of frozen poultry meat and 13 million poultry eggs were imported to Hong Kong from the Netherlands from January to October.

Import bans on the same items from three other Dutch provinces - Flevoland, Utrecht and Friesland - have been in effect since March."

HK bans import of poultry products from parts of Italy

Press release from Hong Kong's CHP :

" The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department announced today (October 16) that in view of a notification from the European Commission about an outbreak of low-pathogenic H5 sub-type avian influenza on a poultry holding in Brescia Province, Lombardy Region, Italy, import of poultry and poultry products, including poultry eggs, from this area has been banned with immediate effect for the protection of Hong Kong's public and animal health.

A CFS spokesman said about 2 000 tonnes of frozen poultry meat and 120 000 poultry eggs from Italy were imported into Hong Kong last year.

An import ban on the same items from Emilia-Romagna Province, Italy, has been in effect since August 17 this year and is still in force, he added."

Hong Kong : House crow tests positive for H5 virus

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

" Preliminary testing of a dead house crow found in Shek Kip Mei has tested positive for the H5 avian influenza virus, a spokesman for the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) said today (March 17), adding that further confirmatory tests are being conducted.

The dead bird was found and collected at a planter next to a petrol filling station, outside Tai Hang Tung Recreation Ground, Shek Kip Mei on March 15.

The spokesman said cleansing and disinfection has been stepped up at the venue, adding that there are no poultry farms within three kilometres of where the dead bird was found.

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.

The spokesman said the department would conduct frequent inspections of poultry farms and the wholesale market to ensure that proper precautions against avian influenza have been implemented. The department will continue its wild bird monitoring and surveillance."

Hong Kong : Oriental magpie robin tests positive for H5 virus

From Hong Kong's Centre for Health Protection :

" A dead Oriental magpie robin found in Cheung Chau has tested positive for the H5 avian influenza virus in preliminary testing, a spokesman for the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) said today (February 29), adding that further confirmatory tests are being conducted.

The dead bird was found and collected at 80 Hok Loo Lane, Cheung Chau, on February 27. The Oriental magpie robin is a common resident bird in Hong Kong.

The spokesman said cleansing and disinfection has been stepped up in the area, adding that there are no poultry farms within three kilometres of where the dead bird was found.

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.

The spokesman said the department would conduct frequent inspections of poultry farms and the wholesale market to ensure that proper precautions against avian influenza have been implemented. The department will continue its wild bird monitoring and surveillance."

Hong Kong : Crested goshawk and Oriental magpie robin test positive for H5 virus

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

" Preliminary testing of the carcasses of a crested goshawk and an Oriental magpie robin found in Mong Kok and Cheung Chau have returned a positive result for the H5 avian influenza virus, a spokesman for the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) said today (February 28), adding that further confirmatory tests are being conducted.

The crested goshawk was found and collected at Diocesan Boys' School, 131 Argyle Street, Mong Kok on February 24. The crested goshawk is an uncommon resident bird in Hong Kong.

The Oriental magpie robin was found and collected at the rooftop, 3/F, 76 Hing Lung Back Street, Cheung Chau on February 25. The Oriental magpie robin is a common resident bird in Hong Kong.

The spokesman said cleansing and disinfection have been stepped up at the venues, adding that there are no poultry farms within three kilometres of where the dead birds were found.

In view of the cases, 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."