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The Government announced today (June 8) that live poultry trading would resume. Local chicken farms can despatch chickens to Cheung Sha Wan Temporary Wholesale Poultry Market (CSWTWPM) beginning this afternoon for supply to the retail market tomorrow. Import of live poultry could also resume from tomorrow. The live poultry stall at Yan Oi Market in Tuen Mun, in which a sample of faecal droppings of live poultry was tested positive of the H7N9 avian influenza (AI) virus, and the one next to it will continue to be closed until June 24.
The Secretary for Food and Health, Dr Ko Wing-man, this afternoon convened another meeting of the steering committee on response level under the Preparedness Plan for Influenza Pandemic. Following discussion with relevant departments on the latest progress of the follow-up work on prevention and control of AI and risk assessment, the steering committee made the above decision.
"The Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department has inspected all local chicken farms over the past three days and collected a total of 3 360 oropharygeal swab samples and blood samples for testing. All samples were tested negative of H7N9 AI virus. The 275 oropharygeal swab samples, blood samples and environmental samples collected earlier from CSWTWPM were confirmed negative of H7N9 AI virus on June 6.
"The Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) has over the past two days inspected the live poultry stalls at FEHD markets and fresh provision shops permitted to sell live poultry to ascertain that all premises have undergone thorough cleansing and disinfection. Up till the present moment, over 120 retail outlets have been checked and confirmed to be in order. The FEHD will continue its inspection on the remaining outlets, which can resume sale of live chickens if their hygiene condition is satisfactory. Besides, live poultry at CSWTWPM were culled yesterday and the market was thoroughly cleansed and disinfected," Dr Ko said.
"Having carefully assessed all relevant risk factors, the Government considers it appropriate to resume live poultry trading. Investigation of the source of the virus is still being conducted," he added.
Dr Ko stressed that the Government will continue to adopt very stringent biosecurity and quarantine measures at various levels of the live poultry supply chain to prevent AI and protect public health. In view of the continued AI threat, Dr Ko urged the live poultry trade and the public to stay vigilant and cooperate with the Government to minimise the risk of AI brought by keeping the supply of live poultry.
Ends/Wednesday, June 8, 2016
Issued at HKT 20:19
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