The health department of Hong Kong on Wednesday urged the public to stay away from the wild birds since several dead birds were confirmed H5N1 positive this month.

 

The Center for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health warned the public not to have close contact with wild birds and to maintain a high standard of personal and environmental hygiene.

 

The appeal was made in view of the increase in number and variety of local wild birds found to be carrying H5N1 virus in some districts of Hong Kong in recent weeks, a CHP spokesman said.

 

Given the detection of H5N1 virus in local wild birds and that Hong Kong has entered the usual peak season for influenza, a spokesman from the CHP reiterated that the public should adopt measures to reduce the risk of being infected, including paying attention to the latest development of the avian influenza pandemic.

 

(Xinhua News Agency February 23, 2006)