Preliminary testing of a Common Magpie found dead in Mong Kok has indicated a suspected case of H5N1 avian influenza, a spokesman for the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) said Saturday, adding that further confirmatory tests are being conducted.

It is the third H5N1 case found in dead Common Magpie bodies detected in Hong Kong since the beginning of this year.

The carcass was collected by AFCD staff at the junction of Boundary Street and Flower Market Path following a public referral on Feb. 17.

AFCD staff inspected stalls in the Bird Garden in Mong Kok on Saturday and found nothing abnormal among the pet birds there for sale.

"We have maintained close surveillance of pet bird stalls in the Garden with daily inspections. Collection of swab samples from the stalls will be further increased," the spokesman said.

More than 200 swab samples are collected from local pet bird stalls each month to test for avian influenza viruses, including those of the Bird Garden. Test results were all negative.

As for a suspected case involving a dead Common Magpie found in Sham Shui Po earlier, the spokesman said the bird was confirmed to have H5N1 virus after a series of laboratory tests.

Hong Kong has imposed the household poultry ban from Feb. 13 following the confirmation of several H5N1 cases involving dead birds and chickens.

Source: Xinhua