Mong Kok Bird Market Shut Over H5 Virus Scare

The popular bird market in Mong Kok has been closed for three weeks after a hill myna in one of the shops tested positive for the H5 strain of bird flu virus.

The H5 type of bird flu virus is the one most likely to mutate and become serious enough to infect humans.

Officials have declared the whole market as an infected place, and all the birds from the shop where the infected myna was found are to be culled.

The market and the surrounding areas, including nearby streets, have also been cleaned up.

The positive sample was taken on April 7 during tests conducted as part of a routine bird flu surveillance programme.

Officials said all stalls in the market are now being closely monitored. But they have found nothing abnormal so far. More birds are still being tested, they said.

Stall owners and workers are also under medical surveillance by the Centre for Health Protection.

People who have visited the market recently are advised to see a doctor as soon as possible if they develop any respiratory problems.