Central slaughtering of all poultry is the most effective and important way to prevent avian flu outbreak, said Professor Yuen Kwok-yung of the University of Hong Kong on Friday.

Yuen said at a news briefing held in Hong Kong, after coming back from a Vietnam medical aid tour, that the research results over avian flu patients of Vietnamese as well as Hong Kong's avian flu patients show that direct contact with poultry may most easily lead to human infection.

"Therefore the most important way for the individuals to prevent avian flu virus is to avoid contacting poultry," said Yuen.

Yuen's team visited major hospitals, gave lectures and held training sessions in Hanoi over the past one week. He said the visit was very conducive to Hong Kong's avian flu prevention, because it helps Hong Kong medical departments collect the firsthand information promptly.

The virulent H5N1 avian flu virus, suspected to have been spread by migrating birds, has so far killed at least 14 people in Vietnam. Hong Kong has up to now guarded the city against the outbreak. But the overspread of the disease in Hong Kong in 1997 killed six people.

Hong Kong began from then on to adopt vaccine programs on all local poultry and recently reinforced the prevention and inspection measures in the city.

Yuen said Hong Kong has great chance to ward off the avian flu disease this time if it can carry through the prevention measures.

"For the individuals, it is necessary for them to maintain personal hygiene, which is very very important," said Yuen.

Regarding to the debatable central slaughtering of all poultry, Yuen said he personally hoped to take the measure as soon as possible.

Hong Kong began to centrally slaughter ducks after the avian flu outbreak in 1997, but has not carried out the policy on live chicken in view of the local eating habits and the job losing of the poultry dealers after the implementation of the policy.

Yuen insisted that only by taking central slaughtering, can Hong Kong secure the fight against avian flu outbreak.

"I think it is a must in the long run," said Yuen.

(Xinhua News Agency February 13, 2004)