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)