The government of Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Thursday reminded travelers to Turkey to be cautious against avian influenza after human infection reported in the country, said a spokesman of the HKSAR Department of Health.

Health authorities of Turkey have announced three people dead of bird flu virus and more than 10 people in the country affected by the disease, while the World Health Organization (WHO) warning that the disease might have grown endemic there.

"Although further verification of these cases is being made by the WHO, the situation there is a cause for concern," said the spokesman.

The department gave seven-point health advice to Hong Kong citizens as how to cut down the risk of being infected by the disease when traveling around the regions with outbreak record, fearing large number of people will visit Turkey in the Chinese New Year holidays in late January.

The authorities also motivated private sectors such as the airlines and airports in the campaign against spread of bird flu.

"Leaflets with health information are also being distributed to passengers leaving for the country," the spokesman, adding, "Airlines have been reminded to inform the Port Health Office if there are any passengers feeling unwell on board flights coming to Hong Kong."

Meanwhile, the travel industry has been informed of the situation in Turkey and health advice was also given to them, he said.

Though no case of bird flu has been found in Hong Kong, the city has taken aggressive measures and public campaign to maintain the zero-case record, the spokesman added.

Hong Kong authorities have suspended poultry and poultry meat imports from several mainland provinces and a Canadian province that reported outbreak of the epidemic.

(Xinhua News Agency January 13, 2006)