Hong Kong's surveillance system for infectious diseases has not
found any trace of H5 virus in its pig population, said Secretary
for Health, Welfare and Food Yeoh Eng-kiong Friday.
Yeoh made the assurance after an announcement by scientists on
the mainland that a strain of avian flu was found in pigs.
"We are aware that the mainland authorities are conducting
studies on the possibility of bird flu in pigs, but we have no H5
infections in our pig and poultry populations, and the risk of an
avian flu outbreak in pig farms is minimal," he told reporters.
Yeoh said the government will continue to monitor local pig
farms, and step up inspections for imported pigs from the
mainland.
Scientists on the mainland found the H5 virus in pigs tested
this year and in 2003, according to China National Avian Influenza
Reference Laboratory official Chen Hualan.
"It is not just the first time it has been found in China but in
the world," she told journalists at an international symposium on
SARS and Avian Flu control and prevention.
(China Daily HK Edition August 21, 2004)