This is the VOA SpecialEnglish AGRICULTURE REPORT.
Health workers in Hong Kong are attempting to halt the spread ofa virus that attacks chickens. They are moving quickly before it candevelop into a virus like one that killed six people inNineteen-Ninety-Seven.
Health workers have alreadydestroyed more than one-hundred-fifty-thousand chickens in HongKong. They also have increased inspections of markets and farmswhere chickens are raised.
This is the third time in five years that the bird flu virus hasaffected Hong Kong. Officials are now considering what additionalsteps they need to take. Some critics blame the problem on poorconditions at chicken farms. They say these include overcrowding,unclean conditions and lack of fresh air.
Influenza is usually called the flu. It causes higher than normalbody temperatures. People with the flu also may suffer muscle pain,breathing problems and weakness.Flu is not usually serious. Mostpeople will feel fine after a week of two. But the flu can haveserious effects. And, it can kill. It is a special threat to veryyoung or very old people, and those with a weak defense systemagainst disease.
Bird flu usually does not affect people. However, sometimes theflu virus changes. Five years ago, six people in Hong Kong died whenthey became infected with a flu virus found in chickens. Healthofficials then ordered the killing of all chickens, ducks and geesein Hong Kong.
Last May, a similar virus infected thousands of Hong Kong’schickens. Officials ordered the killing of more thanone-million-three-hundred-thousand birds. That virus was not athreat to humans.
Hong Kong has almost seven-million people. Chicken is a popularfood. People there eat about one-hundred-thousand chickens everyday. Traditionally, many people buy their chickens live from streetmarkets and bring them home freshly killed. Hong Kong markets arestill selling chickens. But sales have dropped sharply.
Ken Shortridge is a biologist at the University of Hong Kong. Heis one of the scientists studying the bird flu virus. MisterShortridge says the virus is not an immediate threat to people.However, the virus is changing quickly. He says it could change intoa virus that kills people.
This VOA Special English AGRICULTURE REPORT was written by GeorgeGrow.