Bird flu risk for humans 'on the rise in south China'

Vince Chong, Straits Times 26 Feb 08;

THE risk of humans catching the deadly bird flu virus is rising in southern China, an expert warned after a third person died of the infection yesterday.

This is due to the presence of a 'heavy viral load' among 'tens of thousands' of infected birds, government consultant Lo Wing Lok said yesterday.

'A bird or two with the virus will not be enough to infect a human being, but when we are talking about three deaths within the year - and it's only February - it means a lot more birds are involved,' he told The Straits Times.

'This is a cause for concern.'

A 44-year-old woman who died in the southern province of Guangdong yesterday tested positive for the H5N1 bird flu virus, making her the latest avian flu casualty, Hong Kong health officials confirmed.

The migrant worker, identified only by her surname Zhang, developed a fever and cough following contact with sick poultry, Guangdong's health officials said.

The case follows two confirmed avian flu deaths in China this year, one on Feb 20 and the other on Jan 24.

The three cases occurred in different provinces across southern China - Hunan, Guangxi and Guangdong.

The Guangdong death has rattled nerves in Hong Kong, which borders the province.

Hong Kong imports most of its food from across the border, and is worried that a potential avian flu outbreak might spook investors and harm its status as a financial hub.

The city was the scene of the world's first reported major bird flu outbreak among humans in 1997, when six people died.

Although it has yet to impose a ban on poultry imports from Guangdong, the Hong Kong government has sent officials to the province to conduct checks on chicken farms.

There are hundreds of farms licensed to export poultry to Hong Kong. All of them are required to maintain bird vaccinations and avoid overcrowding in poultry cages, among other things.

However, Dr Lo pointed out that the sheer size of the industry makes it difficult to keep tabs on every farm, even though every truckload of poultry entering Hong Kong is monitored for avian flu.

'We have limited manpower, and even fewer medical professionals like veterinarians,' the former lawmaker added. 'So we have to rely heavily on mainland security.'

The deadly H5N1 strain has killed more than 200 people worldwide since 2003, according to the World Health Organisation.

Some 20 people in China, including Ms Zhang, have died of bird flu so far.