Hong Kong Bird Flu outbreaks, also known as Avian Flu are a repeated problem in the city and although potential visitors should always keep an eye on developments, most outbreaks of bird flu in Hong Kong are minor.
There are outbreaks of Bird Flu in Hong Kong every couple of months; this is usually caused by infected chickens imported from China. Almost all recent outbreaks have involved poultry. Hong Kong remains extremely vigilant against Bird Flu and has very tight controls on the importing of poultry. After an outbreak, the city usually halts imports and orders the slaughtering of all poultry which have arrived in recent days.
The strain of Bird Flu which is deadly to humans is known as H5N1. Hong Kong hit the headlines in 1997, when it was the sight of the world’s first major outbreak of H5N1, causing the deaths of six people. The last recorded death in Hong Kong from H5N1 was in February 2003, when one person died.
What Precautions Should I Take When Travelling to Hong Kong?
- An outbreak of bird flu in Hong Kong shouldn’t cause you to postpone your visit.
- Do check my blog and other news sources for news on outbreaks of Bird Flu in Hong Kong.
- If cooking in Hong Kong, be sure to cook all poultry and eggs thoroughly. WHO recommends cooking all poultry above 70 degrees centigrade to kill any virus.
- In relation to the tip above, you might consider only eating at reputable restaurants and giving some of Hong Kong’s less hygienic friendly restaurants a wild berth. Poor hygiene in handling meat and poultry can spread the disease.
- Avoid contact with wild birds at all times.
- If there is an outbreak of H5N1 in the city, you may wish to consider postponing your visit.
