Press Releases
Transcript of SHWF on avian influenza
Following is a transcript (English portion) of the remarks made by the Secretary
for Health, Welfare and Food, Dr York Chow, at a media session after a meeting
with the Director-General of the Shenzhen Entry-Exit Inspection and Quarantine
Bureau, Mr Liu Shengli, in Shenzhen today (February 6):
Question: Can you tell us in more detail what kind of measures the Shenzhen
authorities will be implementing?
Dr Chow: The Shenzhen authorities have already reduced the number of registered
chicken farms from over a hundred to now 35. Because of the very stringent
criteria of accreditation and licensing, they have regular checks on the farms
regarding their biosecurity. They also have ensured that all the chickens are
being vaccinated and they are also testing the antibody of the chickens on a
regular basis and of course, now are being more frequently since a report of
H5N1 in Hong Kong. They have also imposed a quarantine of five days applied to
export to Hong Kong. So, they have observation on the chickens heading for Hong
Kong. They also have imposed a more stringent transport system to ensure that
the loading of chickens into the trucks and so on are being monitored. They also
have the health check at the border before they come to Hong Kong. Up to Hong
Kong, they also have the same type of health check and testing for antibody and
PCR at our border.
Reporter: What about the infected chicken that was found in Sha Tau Kok village
on Hong Kong side last month? Did you know where the chicken came from? Are you
worried that �K�K
Dr Chow: We are both concerned about the origin of the chicken but unfortunately
I think because the chicken has been taken up by the Hong Kong resident for five
days before it had symptoms. It is very difficult to say whether it got infected
after it had arrived home at the affected family or actually before. To some
extent, we want to ensure that first of all, the chickens in the market of Sha
Tau Kok are also fit for consumption and they are all being vaccinated as being
reassured by the authority here.
Reporter: (inaudible)
Dr Chow: We cannot have any conclusive analysis of this particular case because
the time gap falls within the incubation period.
Reporter: Could you explain what kind of situation would you consider lowering
the number of chicken being imported to Hong Kong?
Dr Chow: If there is continuous outbreak of H5N1 in chickens in this locality,
and also in Hong Kong and in southern China, perhaps we have to reconsider the
number of chickens being imported to Hong Kong.
(Please
also refer to the Chinese portion of the transcript)
Ends/Monday, February 6, 2006
Issued at HKT 19:56
NNNN