Press Releases

AFCD quarantines a farm at Pat Heung
Monday, January 6, 2003

The Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) decided to quarantine a chicken farm at Pat Heung after test of four samples showed positive results for H5 virus this (January 6) evening.

Inspection by AFCD staff found over 160 dead chickens in a farm at Pat Heung today. Two dead chickens and two swab samples were taken for rapid laboratory test.

"As the test showed that the samples gave positive results for H5 virus in the evening, the farm was immediately quarantined and the farmer was stopped from selling chickens.

"Most of the remaining 50,000 chickens on the farm are housed in separate sheds from the ones in which the dead chickens were found. These chickens show no clinical symptoms of infection. We have decided to put these chickens under close observation. Depending on our observation, we will take appropriate measures to control the spread of the infection," a spokesman for the AFCD said.

The farm last delivered chickens to the Cheung Sha Wan Temporary Wholesale Poultry Market on December 20. The batch had passed blood tests at farm and at the poultry wholesale market. The farm has not delivered any chickens to the Wholesale Market since that date. The Wholesale Market and the retail markets have had two rest days since then. The AFCD inspected this farm on December 28 and no abnormal mortality was found at that time. A headcount of the chickens also tallied with the department's records.

Meanwhile, AFCD staff has inspected 43 chicken farms today and there has been no unusual mortality in these inspected farms. The farms close to the quarantined farm will be put under close observation in the coming few days. The department will step up enforcement of biosecurity measures in these farms.

"We remain on full alert and will take appropriate actions as and when required," the spokesman said.