PDF《立法会》

2 Legislative Council Secretariat

12 January

2015 Live poultry imported from Mainland tested positive for H7 avian influenza virus The Government today (December 31) confirmed that a number of samples from a consignment of live chickens from a registered farm in Huicheng District of Huizhou in Guangdong were positive in H7 avian influenza (AI) Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) tests. The Secretary for Food and Health, Dr Ko Wing-man, said that the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government (HKSARG) had decided to implement contingency measures in accordance with the Preparedness Plan for Influenza Pandemic on the Serious Response Level to prevent the virus from spreading and safeguard public health. The Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) has declared the Cheung Sha Wan Temporary Wholesale Poultry Market as an infected place. All of the some

15 000 live poultry in the market will be culled starting from this morning. The market will also be closed for

21 days (counting from the next day following completion of the culling operation) for thorough cleansing and disinfection. During the closure period, trading of live poultry will be suspended. During the closure of the wholesale market, AFCD would inspect all local farms and collect more samples for testing. Upon confirmation that all local chicken farms are not affected by AI, local chickens could be dispatched to retail points via the Ta Kwu Ling Checkpoint, Dr Ko said. In accordance with the consensus reached with the Mainland on the handling of H7 AI cases, the HKSAR Government has notified the relevant Mainland authorities of the incident to facilitate investigation of the source of infection. Supply of live poultry from the index registered farm would be suspended, during which the relevant inspection and quarantine authorities will conduct investigation at the farm concerned and ascertain that the farm has met all of the biosecurity and management requirements. Upon expiry of the 21-day suspension period, the relevant inspection and quarantine authorities will notify the HKSAR Government of the investigation result. The farm concerned will resume supply of live poultry to Hong Kong only upon acceptance of the investigation result by both sides. AFCD, the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department and the Centre for Food Safety (CFS) will also strengthen the surveillance and control measures against H7N9 along the supply chain of live poultry. Dr Ko stressed, The HKSAR Government has built up a resilient and stringent system and collaborated closely with the Mainland authorities for the surveillance and control of AI. We have since April

2013 introduced the PCR testing for H7 AI, and since January

2014 introduced the H7 serological testing to strengthen early warning against AI. All live poultry supplied to Hong Kong markets, whether locally reared or imported, are subject to stringent inspection and quarantine procedures. Animal health certificates would be 页1/2Live poultry imported from Mainland tested positive for H7 avian influenza virus http://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/201412/31/P201412310061_print.htm issued only if the test results are satisfactory. Prior to leaving the farms, t........