Replies to LegCo questions

LCQ8: Preventive measures against avian influenza

Following is a question by the Hon Tommy Cheung and a written reply by the Acting Secretary for Food and Health, Professor Sophia Chan, in the Legislative Council today (February 19):

Question:

To prevent and control human infections of avian influenza A (H7N9), the authorities conduct tests at the Man Kam To Animal Inspection Station (MKT) for H7 avian influenza (AI) on samples taken from live chickens imported from the Mainland, and allow these live chickens to be delivered to the Cheung Sha Wan Temporary Wholesale Poultry Market (Market) while waiting for the test results. On the 27th of last month, H7 AI viruses were found in the samples from a batch of live chickens imported from the Mainland. The authorities therefore culled more than 20 000 live chickens in the Market, including local live chickens. In addition, the Market had to be closed for 21 days and trading of both imported mainland live chickens and local live chickens had to be suspended during the period, causing tremendous economic losses to the local poultry industry. I have received complaints from members of the local poultry industry, saying that the authorities should not so readily resort to banning the sale of live chickens, which would nullify all their efforts over the years in strengthening preventive measures against AI. Instead, the authorities should step up measures for the segregation of live poultry imported from the Mainland from those supplied locally, as well as for infection prevention. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:

(1) of the respective time currently needed for obtaining the results of H7 AI serological tests conducted at MKT on live chickens imported from the Mainland, and of H7 genetic tests for further ascertaining whether the live chickens carry H7 AI viruses; whether such periods can be shortened to within half an hour, so that the test results on the live chickens imported from the Mainland can be made available before they are delivered to the Market; if so, when this will be implemented; if not, of the reasons for that, as well as whether it will conduct researches on related technology and, if needed, seek funding approval from this Council;

(2) whether the authorities will consider building a facility on the site near Man Kam To Road in Sheung Shui which was originally planned for the development of a centralised poultry slaughtering centre, or on another site to be identified in the vicinity, for temporary storage of live chickens imported from the Mainland pending the test results; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that; and

(3) given that there is currently no H7N9 vaccine for poultry, whether the authorities will provide funding for the development of such a vaccine; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that?

Reply:

President,

Since the occurrence of H7N9 avian influenza (AI) cases in the Mainland last year, Hong Kong has been on high alert and carrying out measures to prevent the spread of the virus. We started conducting H7 AI Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) tests on imported live poultry from April 11, 2013. Up to mid-January this year, over 14 000 samples were tested for H5 and H7 AI viruses and all the results were negative. On the basis of these measures and with the consensus of Mainland authorities concerned, we further introduced the H7 AI serological test on January 24, 2014 to strengthen our capability in background monitoring and in providing early alerts for AI.

On January 27, 2014, the Government confirmed a number of positive samples tested with the H7 AI PCR test in a consignment of live chickens imported from a registered poultry farm in Shunde District of Foshan City, Guangdong Province. The Secretary for Food and Health immediately convened a meeting of the Steering Committee on Serious Response Level under the Preparedness Plan for Influenza Pandemic and decided to adopt a series of corresponding contingency measures to prevent the virus from spreading in the community and safeguard public health in accordance with the aforementioned preparedness plan.

The Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) then declared the Cheung Sha Wan Temporary Wholesale Poultry Market as an infected place. Some 20 000 live poultry in the market were all culled on January 28, 2014. The market was closed for 21 days until February 18, 2014 for thorough disinfection and cleansing. During the closure period, trading of live poultry (including imported and local live poultry) was suspended and all local chicken farms were temporarily suspended from supplying live chickens to the market. AFCD officers inspected all the local chicken farms and collected additional samples for testing to ensure that local farms were not affected by H7 AI.

Moreover, according to the consensus reached between the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government (HKSARG) and the Mainland on the handling of H7 AI, the HKSARG has notified the relevant Mainland authorities of the case for tracing the source of infection. Supply of live poultry from the registered poultry farm in question to Hong Kong would be suspended, while the relevant entry-exit inspection and quarantine authorities would conduct investigation and ensure that the farm fully complies with the biosecurity management requirements. Upon expiry of the 21-day suspension period, the Mainland authorities would conduct surveillance of the farm and notify us of the result. Supply from the registered farm in question would resume only after both sides are content with the investigation result.

It should be noted that this incident was not an outbreak. Rather, it demonstrates that the testing system has performed the expected functions to provide an additional safeguard to reduce the risk of infected poultry entering our retail markets.

My reply to the various parts of the question is as follows:

(1) All live poultry supplied to Hong Kong markets (including local and imported ones) are subject to stringent inspection and quarantine procedures. Before leaving the farms, poultry ready for sale must be quarantined for five days and pass both the AI PCR test and the serological test to show that they have an adequate level of H5 antibodies and are not carrying any AI virus (including H5 and H7 sub-types) or having any AI clinical symptoms.

With the implementation of the registered farm system in 1998, all live poultry imported to Hong Kong must come from Mainland registered farms. The relevant Mainland entry-exit inspection and quarantine authorities will conduct AI tests for live poultry on Mainland farms and issue animal health certificates to consignments of live poultry with satisfactory test results before they are delivered to Man Kam To Animal Inspection Station (Man Kam To). Under the existing arrangements, the Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department will once again collect tissue and blood samples from the live poultry at Man Kam To and pass the samples to AFCD's Veterinary Laboratory for conducting the tests. The AI tests will take about four to six hours to complete. The consignments would be released from the wholesale market to the retail outlets only after test results are available and this serves to protect public health. If any positive samples are found in the serological test, CFS will collect 120 additional tissue samples from the same consignment of live poultry for PCR test, which will take about eight to ten hours.

At present, there is no technology which will enable an effective testing of AI within half an hour. AFCD will keep in view the technologies development and conduct technical studies in a timely manner.

(2) In response to the request from the trade, the Government is actively exploring the arrangement of separate holding of imported and local live poultry before AI test results of imported poultry are available in order to minimise the impact of contingency measures against AI on the operation of live poultry trade. In the site search, the Administration has to take into account planning and land use of the sites, the infrastructure required for the temporary holding of live poultry, the impacts on the nearby environment and community (including the presence of any chicken farm in the vicinity), and the lead time required for putting the facility in place. The Food and Health Bureau and the relevant departments have visited some of the sites under consideration, and held an inter-departmental meeting to discuss the relevant issues. We are now liaising with the relevant works departments on the technical issues, and we aim to make a decision on the site and the relevant arrangements at the earliest possible.

As the establishment of such facility takes time, the Government has decided to suspend the import of live poultry for slaughter and consumption. The import of day-old chicks as well as chilled or frozen poultry products will not be affected. We will review the progress of the relevant follow-up actions in around four months' time and discuss with the relevant Mainland authorities the arrangements of live poultry supply to Hong Kong.

(3) The development of a vaccine is a time-consuming and complex task. There may not be sufficient facilities or experience in this area in Hong Kong. Nevertheless, we will closely monitor the research and development of H7N9 vaccines for use in poultry in the Mainland and other countries, and review our assessment in a timely manner.

Ends/Wednesday, February 19, 2014
Issued at HKT 18:08

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