OIE: Highly pathogenic avian influenza, Hong Kong (SAR - PRC)

Information received on 23/12/2010 from Dr Thomas Sit, Chief Veterinary Officer / Assistant Director (Inspection & Quarantine), Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government, Hong Kong , Hong Kong (SAR - PRC)

Summary

Report type Immediate notification (Final report)
Start date 18/12/2010
Date of first confirmation of the event 21/12/2010
Report date 22/12/2010
Date submitted to OIE 23/12/2010
Date event resolved 18/12/2010
Reason for notification Reoccurrence of a listed disease
Date of previous occurrence 26/03/2010
Manifestation of disease Clinical disease
Causal agent Highly pathogenic avian influenza
Serotype H5N1
Nature of diagnosis Laboratory (advanced)
This event pertains to the whole country

New outbreaks

Summary of outbreaks Total outbreaks: 1
Location(s)
  • HONG KONG (Lantau Island, Sha Lo Wan)
Total animals affected
Species Susceptible Cases Deaths Destroyed Slaughtered
Birds ** 1
Outbreak statistics
Species Apparent morbidity rate Apparent mortality rate Apparent case fatality rate Proportion susceptible animals lost*
Birds ** ** ** **

* Removed from the susceptible population through death, destruction and/or slaughter
** Not calculated because of missing information

Epidemiology

Source of the outbreak(s) or origin of infection
  • Unknown or inconclusive
Epidemiological comments Since the occurrence of the event, inspections of the Lantau coast and the nearby villages have been conducted, no poultry carcass was found and there was no evidence of any backyard poultry being kept there (the HKSAR government has banned backyard poultry since February 2006). There was no poultry farm within three kilometres of where the carcass was found. The HKSAR government will continue to monitor the situation including wild bird surveillance and local poultry farm monitoring. The date of event ended is the same as the finding of the bird (i.e. 18 Dec 2010).

Control measures

Measures applied
  • Screening
  • Disinfection of infected premises/establishment(s)
  • No vaccination
  • No treatment of affected animals
Measures to be applied
  • No other measures

Diagnostic test results

Laboratory name and type Tai Lung Veterinary Laboratory, Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (National laboratory)
Tests and results
Species Test Test date Result
Birds immunohistochemical test 21/12/2010 Positive
Birds polymerase chain reaction (PCR) 21/12/2010 Positive
Birds virus isolation 22/12/2010 Positive
Laboratory name and type Department of Microbiology, the University of Hong Kong (Regional Reference Laboratory)
Tests and results
Species Test Test date Result
Birds gene sequencing Pending

Future Reporting

The event is resolved. No more reports will be submitted.