20.10.2008

Hong Kong

A house crow found dead in a crowded district in Hong Kong last week has tested positive for the highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza virus.
The appearance of the virus in Hong Kong, more active in the cooler months between October and March, is closely watched as it may indicate the level of activity of the virus in mainland China, which has a poultry population of 13 billion.
The crow was found dead in a public refuse bin on Wednesday.