Dead birds test positive for H5N1 in HK

Preliminary testing has found the H5N1 virus in the bodies of two ducks and a goose in Hong Kong.

PreliminarytestinghasfoundtheH5N1virusinthebodies
oftwoducksandagooseinHongKong.

The dead birds were found on January 29th at a beach near Sha Lo Wan. There are no poultry farms within three kilometers. Health department investigators are trying to determine whether the birds were dumped or had washed ashore. The 18 people who came in contact with the birds are now under medical surveillance. Health authorities will continue to monitor the situation.

York Chow, HK secretary for Food and Health, said, "In the past few months, 8 people were infected by H5N1 virus on the mainland. None of the infections was caused by a large scale outbreak in poultry. We are concerned about birds carrying the virus but without any symptoms because that's the key problem."