Theme 1 Understanding of Public Health

Theme 1 Understanding of public health

Avian influenza and Hong Kong

Source 1

A3 Local 10 December 2008 Daily News

Another outbreak of avian influenza No live chicken for the winter

As winter is coming, the government had originallyplanned to double the import of live chickens from the mainland to meet the demands of the Hong Kong people. However, an H5 avian influenza case broke out in a chicken farm in Yuen Long yesterday, and Secretary for Food and Health York Chow Yat-ngok ordered the slaughter of a total of 80,000 chickens and the launch of preventive measures: suspending the supply of live chickens and banning live poultry import for 21 days. The Hong Kong people will have no live chickens to eat this winter.
The concerned chicken farm witnessed the unusual death of 60 chickens, some of which were‘sentinel chickens’that did not get vaccines for monitoring avian influenza, while a number of the dead chickens had been inoculated against the influenza. The Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department took fecal samples of some of the dead chickens and live chickens that were later tested to be H5 positive. The authority immediately elevated the alert state of avian influenza to serious and declared the affected farm and a neighbouring chicken farm index farms. 80,000 chickens were culled and the farm owners received HK$30 from the government as compensation for each slaughtered chicken. The workers of the farms were quarantined in the hospital for 5 days. The farms were sanitized and articles were burned.
Chow added that as the affected chicken farm had recently supplied live chickens to the Cheung Sha Wan wholesale poultry market, the live chickens of the market also needed to be slaughtered. However, since the market had carried out the ‘no overnight stocking of live poultry at retail outlets’ policy, it is believed that the contaminated live chickens have been slaughtered. Avian influenza can pass from birds to humans. If contracting H5 avian influenza, the patient can develop respiratory failure rapidly and even die. Chow reminded the citizens to consult doctors promptly if they show symptoms of influenza.
（Source: Adapted from various newspapers.）

Source 2

Mr. Wong, owner of the affected chicken farm in Yuen Long

Ah Ling, owner of a live poultry retail stall in a market

Old Mr. Ng, a citizen

Mr. Cheung, a citizen

(a)According to Source 1, what routine preventive measures did the government carry out for the prevention of avian influenza? Give 2 examples of the measures. 【Knowledge & Understanding & Giving Evidence】(4 marks)

(b)According to Source 2, what is the impact of the government’s measure of banning live chickens and poultries on the citizens?

【Knowledge & Understanding】(4 marks)

(c)In your opinion, is the cull of all live poultry in the index farms and the 21-day ban on the import of live poultry appropriate or too stringent? Explain. 【Expressing Opinions】(10 marks)

(d)What is the importance of live chickens to the traditional culture and customs of the Hong Kong people? Do you think these customs should be kept and continued? 【Analysis & Expressing Opinions】 (8 marks)

(e)Do you think the local chicken farming trade and live chicken retail trade should be removed to effectively prevent avian influenza? Explain. 【Critical Thinking】(8 marks)

(Data-response Worksheets）