The H5 virus that killed 200 chickens and resulted in the largest slaughter in several years did not originate at the farm where it was discovered.

Secretary for Food and Health York Chow said yesterday that the virus outbreak discovered Monday came from outside the Yuen Long farm where the dead chickens were found. Following the discovery of the virus Monday, the government ordered the culling of more than 90,000 chickens at two farms and a wholesale market.

Chow said there is no evidence of egg smuggling activities despite claims by members of the poultry trade, who said that could be the cause of the outbreak.

Government inspectors regularly check the number of chicken breeders, chicks and fertilized eggs at local farms and there have not been any significant changes, dismissing the suggestion that eggs are being smuggled.

He added that inspectors would double check the number of chickens and eggs at the Yuen Long farm and others.

"I would appeal to the trade to give us any evidence if they can actually provide information," Chow said. "If anyone in the trade has really smuggled eggs he is rather unwise and irresponsible."

Officials are still unsure where the virus came from and the investigation is ongoing to determine whether it came from chickens, eggs or farm workers. If the virus originated in the mainland, his department will ask authorities there to be more alert and take the necessary steps.

Several members of the poultry trade continued to assert that smuggling is behind the latest outbreak.

"The outbreak is closely related to smuggled eggs," said Tsui Ming-tuen, chairman of Hong Kong Poultry Association, after meeting with about 20 chicken wholesalers and breeder wholesalers.

He also called on the government to shorten a 21-day ban on sales of live chickens to seven days, and limit the impact on the livelihoods of poultry dealers. He said the level of hygiene in chicken farms within 5km of where the infected chickens were found is good and the government should allow those farms sell chickens. He also asked the government to increase compensation for each culled chickens by 10 to 20 percent from the current HK$30.

Wong Yee-chuen, owner of Yuen Long Farm where the dead chickens were found, denied all allegations of smuggling. Wong, who is also chairman of the New Territories Chicken Breeders Association, said those making the accusation should present evidence.

Dressed in protective gear outside his farm, he said he has invested over HK$10 million in the operation.

The farm has been allowed to produce and hatch its own eggs for five years and he does not need to engage in smuggling, he said. He expressed regret for what happened and noted that he has lost more than HK$1 million since the outbreak.

The Food and Health Bureau said inspectors from the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) would step up inspection on how bio-technology measures are implemented in farms.

Chicken farmers have to get approval from the AFCD to bring chickens or eggs in and out of farms or face losing their licenses.

Meanwhile, Director of Health P Y Lam said the department has distributed Tamiflu, a flu vaccine, to workers at the Cheung Sha Wan wholesale market where chickens were slaughtered.

The Department of Health is closely monitoring the health condition of poultry workers in Hong Kong, he said.

He stressed no cases of human infection have been found.

(HK Edition 12/12/2008 page1)