Press Releases

AFCD announces backyard poultry vaccination programme
Thursday, November 3, 2005

The Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) today (November 3) announced a free avian influenza vaccination programme for backyard poultry, under which owners can make appointments with the department to arrange a visit and vaccination service through the government hotline 1823.

A department spokesman said that the proactive vaccination programme aimed at minimizing the public health risks of highly pathogenic avian influenza outbreak from local backyard poultry, which at present are not subject to the licensing conditions for poultry farms that keep more than 20 birds.

"Target of our service is persons who keep poultry in the backyard for self-consumption or as pet. Livestock keeping licence holders are not eligible for the programme," he said.

"Vaccinated poultry will be secured with leg bands for individual identification. Two injections will be arranged and each will be four to six weeks apart."

AFCD staff will start scheduling visits upon referrals and vaccinate the poultry on site in accordance with the departmental guidelines which cover the dosage, the storage of vaccine and the disposal of medical waste.

The department has contacted the Home Affairs Department to liaise with the Rural Committees to facilitate the programme to be carried out in rural villages.

During the visit, the households will be given a pamphlet and instructions for backyard poultry biosecurity measures including bird net, disinfection arrangements, segregation of poultry if they want to continue keeping the poultry.

In view of the current threat of avian influenza in the region, the spokesman said households should consider giving up backyard farming if they could not have adequate biosecurity measures.

"They can send the poultry to the AFCD animal management centres or contact our staff for disposal arrangements," he said.

When accepting the vaccination service, owners must sign an undertaking and provide a full record of their flocks.

"Backyard poultry owners should report any suspicious disease outbreak or significant increase in mortality among the flocks to the AFCD within 24 hours from the onset," the spokesman said.

"It is important that people should wash their hands after contact with poultry.

"In the case of a suspected outbreak, the owners must surrender the whole flock to the AFCD for elimination. No allowance or compensation will be granted in such circumstances."