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Hong Kong Reports Bird Flu Outbreak

By the Associated Press

Posted Dec 9, 2008 9:47 AM CST

(AP) – Three dead chickens tested positive for bird flu in Hong Kong, prompting the city to suspend poultry imports for 21 days and begin slaughtering tens of thousands of birds, an official said today. "We feel that Hong Kong is facing a new alert for bird flu," said the secretary for food and health.

Chow said the chickens, found yesterday at a farm with 60,000 birds, had the H5 virus and further tests were being done to see if they had the deadly H5N1 strain. The farm and neighboring poultry operations were declared part of an infected zone, and about 80,000 birds in the area will be killed to prevent the spread of the disease. The 21-day ban on poultry imports will last through Christmas, a time when chicken is an important dish.

Health workers pack the dead chickens at a local farm in Hong Kong Tuesday, Dec. 9, 2008. (Kin Cheung)

Health workers pack the dead chickens at a local farm in Hong Kong Tuesday, Dec. 9, 2008. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung)

In this September 18, 2007, file photo, chickens peer out from a cage at a market in Hong Kong. (AP Photo/Vincent Yu, FILE)

Health workers pack dead chicken at a local farm in Hong Kong Tuesday, Dec. 9, 2008. (AP Photo)

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OTHER STORIES ON OUR RADAR

China • Hong Kong • avian flu • H5N1 • chicken

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More Newser Stories

2 More Birds Found With Flu in Hong Kong

Concerns grow over H5N1 spread

China Sees First Bird Flu Death in More Than a Year

Bus driver near Hong Kong dies

Bird Flu Hits Hong Kong

Territory confirms first case since 2003

Hong Kong Ad Slams 'Chinese Invasion'

Spat heats up as cross-border tourists labeled 'locusts'

UN: Bird Flu Is Back

Virus is on the rise after declining for years

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