Summary
Report type: immediate notification
Started: 16 Dec 2021
Confirmed: 20 Dec 2021
Reported: 20 Dec 2021
Reason for notification: recurrence
Last occurrence: 27 Jan 2021
Causal agent: Highly pathogenic avian influenza virus
Serotype: H5N1
Nature of diagnosis: clinical, necropsy, laboratory
This event pertains to the whole country.

New outbreaks (1)
Summary of outbreaks
Total outbreaks (1)
Outbreak location 1: Hong Kong Wetland Park, Tin Shui Wai, Yuen Long
Started: 16 Dec 2021
Epidemiological unit: not applicable
Total animals affected:
Species / Susceptible / Cases / Deaths / Killed and disposed of /
Slaughtered or killed for commercial use / Vaccinated
Black-faced spoonbill (_Platalea minor_):
Threskiornithidae-Phaethontiformes / - / 1 / 1 / 0 / 0 / 0
Affected population: a dead, black-faced spoonbill was collected on
[16 Dec 2021] at the mudflat of Hong Kong Wetland Park. The species is
a common winter visitor in Deep Bay areas with a small number recorded
in summer.

Epidemiology
Source of the outbreak(s) or origin of infection: unknown or
inconclusive
Epidemiological comments: an intensive surveillance system is in place
for all poultry farms, poultry markets, and pet bird shops in Hong
Kong. The H5N1 infected bird was detected in the ongoing territory
wide surveillance program on wild birds. No spread of the disease was
evident. There are 2 poultry farms located within 3 kilometers
of where the bird was found. No abnormalities or signs of avian
influenza were found in the 2 farms. The end date of the outbreak is
the same as the date the bird was found (16 Dec 2021).

Control measures applied [in wild]: disinfection; screening

Diagnostic test results
Laboratory name and type / Species / Test / Test date / Result
Tai Lung Veterinary Laboratory, Agriculture Fisheries and Conservation
Department National Laboratory / black-faced spoonbill / virus
isolation / 20 Dec 2021 / positive
Tai Lung Veterinary Laboratory, Agriculture Fisheries and Conservation
Department National Laboratory / black-faced spoonbill / real-time
reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (rRT-PCR) / 17 Dec
2021 / positive
Tai Lung Veterinary Laboratory, Agriculture Fisheries and Conservation
Department National Laboratory / black-faced spoonbill / direct rapid
immunohistochemical test / 17 Dec 2021 / positive