Rapid bird flu tests to be implemented starting 11 April

Results can be gathered within 4 hours.

According to a report, rapid avian influenza tests will be implemented on April 11 to ensure imported chickens are virus-free.

Secretary for Food & Health Dr Ko Wing-man made the announcement to the media today after inspecting Cheung Sha Wan Temporary Wholesale Poultry Market.

He said Hong Kong and Mainland authorities met yesterday to discuss control measures against H7N9, and agreed to enhance surveillance work of live poultry imported into Hong Kong.

“We will take samples from poultry imported into Hong Kong upon their entry at Man Kam To Control Point for rapid tests of H5 and H7 avian influenza. When these live poultry arrive at Cheung Sha Wan Temporary Wholesale Poultry Market, they will be held until the results of the rapid tests demonstrate they are negative [for the viruses]. They will then be released to the market for sale,” he said.

About 30 samples will be taken from every 1,000 chickens, and results will be released within four hours.

Since 2010, all live poultry and poultry products bound for Hong Kong have been tested for H7 avian influenza, and no cases of the virus have been found so far.

Dr Ko said overnight live poultry storage areas in wholesale markets are protected by nets, an added biosecurity measure to prevent wild birds from spreading the virus to poultry.

The H7 virus has always existed in wild birds, but the chance of transmission to humans by this route is slim, he said. The H7 virus has been transmitted from wild birds to poultry in the eastern regions of the Mainland.

The Government will raise the response level from ‘alert’ to ‘serious’ if the virus is detected in poultry or people in Hong Kong, in which case poultry will be culled and Mainland poultry imports suspended.