Alert up vs Hong Kong poultry

Airport authorities said Wednesday they remained on alert for bird flu following reports that at least 17,000 chicken were culled in Hong Kong after three birds were confirmed to have died from the deadly H5N1 bird flu strain in the past week.

Thess Roque, deputy Customs collector for passenger services, ordered all the Customs examiners at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport to be vigilant and rigidly inspect all belongings of incoming passengers, including cargo arriving from Hong Kong.

She said all poultry products,  be it live, fresh or cooked, will be intercepted and examined.

Roque said the rigid inspection aims to prevent the possible entry of contaminated poultry products which may adversely affect the country’s poultry business.