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In an unexpected turn of events, the infected bird discovered by regulators in Hong Kong had been left at a pet store 2 weeks ago, and now authorities are looking for the owner.
Race to find owner of H5N1 bird
Carol Chung and Emily Wu
Monday, June 18, 2007
Officials of the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department are trying to track down the owner of a bird after H5N1 virus was found in its droppings.
The bird - a Daurian starling - was left at a Mong Kok pet shop on Yuen Po Street, commonly known as "Bird Street," two week ago, but it is not known whether it was intended for sale.
Infectious diseases expert Lo Wing- lok said it is "very important" the owner of the bird, which is migratory by nature, be located.
"He or she may already have been infected, and the situation could get worse if medical treatment is delayed. People in contact with the person are also at risk. Tracking down this person holds the key to finding the source of the virus," Lo said.
Chung Ho-fai, chairman of the Hong Kong Bird Watching Society, said the sale of wild birds must be banned following the recent spate of avian flu cases detected among such birds in Hong Kong.
Bird flu is blamed for the deaths of 157 people worldwide since 2003. Most victims had direct contact with poultry. Scientists have repeatedly warned of a global pandemic, resulting in the deaths of millions of people, if the deadly avian virus mutates, making transmission possible between humans.
The virus jumped to infect humans in Hong Kong in 1997, killing six of the 18 people infected and prompting the authorities to cull more than two million fowl.
The latest H5N1 scare at a shop called Indonesia resulted in an order for all pet shops on Yuen Po Street to close.
About 300 birds from the affected shop have been taken to the AFCD's animal management center in Sheung Shui for tests and observation. The fecal sample taken from the Daurian starling June 4 was part of the department's routine bird-flu surveillance program.
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