Agriculture, Fisheries & Conservation Department
The Agriculture, Fisheries & Conservation Department is responsible for the secure, orderly and efficient production and marketing of agricultural and fishery produce; enforcing regulations on plants, pesticides and animal controls; and conserving our natural environment and safeguarding the ecological integrity.
Secretary for Food & Health Dr York Chow says there is no need to tighten health surveillance measures at border checkpoints because only one sporadic human case of avian flu case has been reported in Hong Kong.
Speaking to reporters after attending a bone marrow donor award ceremony today, Dr Chow said the Agriculture, Fisheries & Conservation Department has inspected 30 chicken farms in Hong Kong and collected samples for tests.
About half of the testing work has been completed and so far no avian flu virus has been detected. The Government has also conducted random checks on chickens imported from the Mainland and found no problems.
"The tests are still going on, but so far we feel that the risk of avian influenza in Hong Kong is still slim, and also there is no indication of human to human transmission."
Dr Chow said the condition of the 59-year-old woman infected with avian flu has improved. "The patient is in a stable, but still serious, condition. She is still receiving oxygen, although the oxygen concentration has decreased from 100% to 70%, which indicates her lung is improving."
He said the Government will monitor the situation and it has asked Mainland authorities to inspect markets and monitor poultry health.
