Secretary for Health, Welfare and Food of Hong Kong York Chow said Tuesday that swab samples from Hong Kong birds shops were free from bird flu viruses.

Chow, together with Director of Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation of Hong Kong Thomas Chan, visited pet bird stalls on Tuesday in the Yuen Po Street Bird Garden to get a better idea of the precautionary measures put in place to guard against avian influenza.

Chow noted that swab samples collected from local pet bird stalls, including those from the bird garden, for testing of the bird flu viruses had so far been all clear.

He stressed that bird traders and workers had an important part to play in the overall efforts in guarding against the disease.

They should wear gloves while cleaning bird cages and bird droppings, pay more attention to personal hygiene, and observe the licensing requirements of maintaining a clean and sanitary condition for housing birds, he said.

Source: Xinhua