Report type

Immediate notification

Date of start of the event

07/04/2018

Date of confirmation of the event

12/04/2018

Report date

15/04/2018

Date submitted to OIE

16/04/2018

Reason for notification

Recurrence of a listed disease

Date of previous occurrence

04/04/2018

Manifestation of disease

Sub-clinical infection

Causal agent

Highly pathogenic influenza A virus

Serotype

H5N6

Nature of diagnosis

Laboratory (advanced)

This event pertains to

the whole country

Summary of outbreaks

Total outbreaks: 1

Outbreak Location

• Hong Kong ( Yuen Po Street Bird Garden, Mong Kok, Yau Tsim Mong District )

Total animals affected

Outbreak statistics

* Removed from the susceptible population through death, destruction and/or slaughter;

Source of the outbreak(s) or origin of infection

• Unknown or inconclusive

Epidemiological comments

An avian influenza intensive surveillance system is in place for all poultry farms, poultry markets, and pet bird shops in Hong Kong. A sample collected from a pet bird shop during routine surveillance on 7 April 2018 tested positive for H5N6 highly pathogenic influenza A virus. A total of 2,834 pet birds were removed from the shop, culled and disposed of on 13 April 2018. The Yuen Po Street Bird Garden where the pet bird shop was located will be closed for 21 days. No spread of disease is evident. Neither the Hong Kong Wetland Park nor Mai Po Nature Reserve nor any poultry farms are located within three kilometres of the outbreak location.

Measures applied

• Movement control inside the country
• Surveillance outside containment and/or protection zone
• Surveillance within containment and/or protection zone
• Screening
• Official disposal of carcasses, by-products and waste
• Stamping out
• Zoning
• Disinfection
• Vaccination permitted (if a vaccine exists)
• No treatment of affected animals

Measures to be applied

• No other measures

Laboratory name and type

Tai Lung Veterinary Laboratory, Agriculture, Fisheries & Conservation Department ( National laboratory )

Tests and results