# 4379
Guangdong Province, which lies adjacent to Hong Kong, has long been the site of suspected bird flu activity – although rarely do we get official acknowledgment of the fact.
Last year, you may recall, hundreds of dead (and H5N1 infected) chickens were found washed up on the beaches around Hong Kong, after having floated down the Pearl river from mainland China.
For an overview, see More On The Chinese Bird Flu Mystery and for warnings from a leading Chinese scientist that vaccines may mask H5N1 symptoms, see Zhong Nanshan On Asymptomatic Poultry.
And every year migratory birds arrive in Hong Kong from the mainland, and they too sometimes carry the H5N1 virus.
Since Hong Kong imports considerable poultry, and other food items, from Guangdong Province there are naturally concerns about the safety of those goods. Recent food safety scandals coming out of China over the past year or two haven’t helped matters much, either.
So this reassuring Xinhua news article, and accompanying photo – showing a single terrified chicken undergoing scrutiny by no less than 3 hazmat suited inspectors – caught my eye this morning.
No doubt this level of inspection goes on for each and every chicken headed to the live markets of Hong Kong. And, doubtless, inspectors can detect asymptomatic H5N1 in poultry, just by looking at them.
(Actually, they appear to be reading a toe tag. Probably reads `Inspected by Number 14’ in Cantonese).
Pardon my snark.
My thanks to Sharon Sanders on FluTrackers for posting this picture which is simply too good not to share.
China - Officials Inspect Poultry Before Shipment from Guangdong Province to Hong Kong
Guangdong to ensure the safety of fresh agricultural products to Hong Kong
2010-2-24
Figure: inspection and quarantine officers fresh agricultural products to Hong Kong to strengthen inspection to ensure safety
(Newspaper photo)
show on the 23rd Guangzhou, Xinhua Reporters from the Guangdong Entry-Exit Inspection and Quarantine Bureau was informed that, during the Spring Festival in Guangdong for Hong Kong fresh agricultural products, both to ensure the quality and safety of food, but also ensure rapid clearance, customs clearance and smooth.
During the Spring Festival, Guangdong Board for Hong Kong and Macao from the 1555 batch, 62476; 216 batches of chicken, 29109; food aquatic animals 2156 batch, 173.4 tons; 1000 batch of vegetables, 7300 tons; milk 20 batches of 224 tons.
Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao fresh agricultural products, a major source of food every day, 450 trucks and ships more than 10 types of fresh agricultural products will be continuously transported to Hong Kong.
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