Mainlanders flood Hong Kong amid bird flu outbreak

Three-day Labor Day break causing anxiety among health authorities.

Close to a thousand Hong Kong officials are currently stationed at border crossings with the mainland, many equipped with infrared thermometers to scan the thousands of mainlanders surging into the city.

Food and health secretary Ko Wing-man said extra measures are being taken this week during the surge in visitors from across the border as Hong Kong strengthens its defenses against the H7N9 strain of bird flu.

"There will also be promotion and education work done at the borders reminding visitors to stay home or visit a doctor if they are not feeling well," he said.

Along with extra screening at entry points, tour operators are being asked to keep an eye on travelers who may be showing symptoms of what the World Health Organization calls "one of the most lethal influenza viruses" it has ever seen.

As of April 27, the number of bird flu infections had risen to 124. This figure includes one case in Taiwan, which remains the only recorded infection beyond mainland China.

In China, the infection has spread to eight provinces and the city of Shanghai, as well as Beijing. Twenty-three people have so far died from the infection while 14 people have recovered after treatment. On April 24, China switched to weekly updates and the figure hasn't been updated since.