Three samples from two live poultry markets in Shenzhen tested positive for the H7N9 bird flu virus after collecting 70 environmental samples from 13 live poultry markets. Samples were collected from chopping boards, chicken excrement and tools.
The Hong Kong’s Centre for Health Protection have already notified authorities in the Guangdong province and Guangdong health officials have already warned the public of H7N9 transmission risks reports the RTHK.
In Hong Kong, there have been two reported cases of H7N9 – a 36-year-old Indonesian helper who had bought chicken from a Shenzhen market and an 80-year-old man who had eaten chicken from Shenzhen.
In China, the situation is more severe – 140 cases with about 40 of them leading to death.
However, according to the RTHK Health Secretary, Ko Wing-man said it’s not necessary to suspend live poultry imports from the mainland, despite the findings of the virus at two wet markets.
Photo: Hector Garcia, Flickr
