Hong Kong Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department confirmed Monday that three earlier suspected cases of bird flu were H5N1 positive after a series of laboratory tests.

The cases involve a dead House Crow collected on Lai On Estate in Kowloon on February 20, a dead House Crow collected on Tai Hang Tung Estate in Kowloon on February 23, and a dead Common Magpie collected on Island Road in Hong Kong Island on February 24.

A department spokesman reminded people to observe good personal hygiene.

"They should avoid personal contact with wild birds and live poultry, and clean their hands thoroughly after coming into contact with them," he said.

The health department of Hong Kong is now on high alert against a possible outbreak of the lethal human cases of avian influenza H5N1 in the special administrative region as dozens of wild birds have been found suspected of H5N1 virus.

(Xinhua News Agency February 28, 2006)