Subsequent to announcing last week that the carcass of a black-faced spoonbill preliminarily tested positive for the H5 avian influenza (AI) virus, the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) confirmed the carcass to be positive for the H5N1 AI virus after further laboratory testing, a spokesman for the AFCD said on December 12.

The bird carcass was found and collected earlier at a mudflat in the Hong Kong Wetland Park (Wetland Park) in Tin Shui Wai and preliminarily tested positive for the H5 AI virus on December 6. The black-faced spoonbill is a winter visitor mainly found in the Deep Bay area.

The spokesman said cleaning and disinfection has been stepped up at the venue where the dead bird was found in the Wetland Park. Notices have also been put up to remind visitors to pay attention to personal hygiene. The Wetland Park will keep a close watch on the situation of birds inside the park.

Two chicken farms are within 3 kilometres of where the dead bird was found. The AFCD immediately informed the chicken farms concerned and no abnormal mortality or symptoms of avian influenza among the chicken flocks have been found so far. The AFCD will remind poultry farmers to strengthen precautionary and biosecurity measures against AI. Pet bird shop owners and licence holders of pet poultry and bird exhibitions will also be reminded to implement proper precautions against AI.

The spokesman said that the department will closely monitor poultry farms and the wholesale market to ensure that proper precautions against AI have been taken. The department will continue its wild bird monitoring and surveillance.