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| Magpie Robin Tests H5N1-positive in HK |
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A dead wild bird in Hong Kong has been confirmed of positive to the virus of H5N1, announced the local authorities on Thursday, but they dismissed the fear that there is an outbreak of avian influenza in the city. "In Hong Kong, it's the first time we have found the virus on the species," said an official from the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR). However, "there's no cause of alarm," said the official, for patrol conducted in a five kilometer-radius circle had found no avian influenza on poultry farms. Neither did further survey over Hong Kong's other poultry farms find bird flu, caused by H5N1, or poultry abnormality, the official told a news conference broadcast live. The authorities therefore decided to keep open a wetland park, where the body of the wild bird was found. The body of the wild bird, magpie robin, was collected on January 10 in the country area of Tai Po, northeastern of the Hong Kong Island. Laboratory test had confirmed that the wild bird was positive to the virus of H5N1, which has caused the bird flu now epidemic around the world. Previous to this case, Hong Kong has kept a zero-outbreak record and the authorities have launched aggressive campaign to prevent the disease from entering the territory. There has no clue as how and where disease affected the dead magpie robin, a common species in Hong Kong and the southern part of China, said the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department. Though reiterating there's no need to panic, the authorities again reminded the public to pay attention to personal hygiene so as not to be affected. (Xinhua News Agency January 20, 2006) |
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