The Hong Kong Department of Health said Wednesday it will step up anti-bird flu measures after being notified by the Chinese mainland of confirmed human cases of avian flu H5N1.

China's Ministry of Health earlier Wednesday confirmed two human cases of H5N1 bird flu.

The two confirmed cases involve a nine-year-old boy in Hunan Province in central China and a 24-year-old woman in Anhui Province in the east.

A spokesman for the Department of Health said the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region government has been notified by the Ministry of Health of the cases. He added that in view of the situation, temperature screening at Lo Wu and Lok Ma Chau border crossings will be re-activated in phases within 48 hours.

He said the existing measures of broadcasting health messages and distribution of leaflets at border crossings would also be stepped up.

The government will closely monitor the situation and put in place further measures as and when necessary, he said.

Source: Xinhua