On 24th October, Ministry of Agriculture (MoA) of China reported a number of H5 highly pathogenic avian influenza incidents to the World Organisation for Animal Health (now known as WOAH, and formerly known as OIE). The abovementioned cases were picked up as part of the national animal disease surveillance plan with samples collected mainly in mid-September.

After a series of communication with the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine (AQSIQ), it has been confirmed that there are no registered live poultry farms affected by the incidents. One registered egg processing plant is located within 13km of an index point in Zhuhai but it did not export any poultry eggs to Hong Kong this year. The Mainland authority has taken the initiative to temporarily suspend export of poultry eggs from the processing plant concerned to Hong Kong immediately.

The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) will closely monitor the latest development of the avian influenza incidents and take appropriate action accordingly.