A free avian flu vaccination programme for backyard poultry has been launched to minimise public health risks, the Agriculture, Fisheries & Conservation Department says. Owners can make appointments to arrange a visit and vaccination service through the hotline, 1823.

At present, local backyard poultry is not subject to the licensing conditions for poultry farms that keep more than 20 birds.

The programme targets people who keep poultry in the backyard for their own consumption or as pets. Livestock-keeping licence-holders are not eligible for the programme.

The department will start scheduling visits upon referral and vaccinate the poultry on site. The households will be given a pamphlet and instructions for backyard poultry biosecurity measures.

When accepting the vaccination service, owners must sign an undertaking and provide a full record of their flocks. Vaccinated poultry will be secured with leg bands for individual identification. Two injections will be arranged, four to six weeks apart.

Households encouraged to report suspicious illness

In view of the current threat of bird flu in the region, households should consider giving up backyard farming if they can not provide adequate biosecurity measures. They can send the poultry to the department's animal-management centres or contact the department for disposal arrangements.

Backyard poultry owners should report any suspicious disease outbreak or significant increase in mortality among their flocks to the department within 24 hours of the onset.

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