• Hong Kong has suspended imports of fresh poultry from mainland China for 21 days on Tuesday after the discovery of the H7N9 bird flu virus in a batch of live chicken from the southern province of Guangdong. Tyrone Siu / Reuters
    Hong Kong has suspended imports of fresh poultry from mainland China for 21 days on Tuesday after the discovery of the H7N9 bird flu virus in a batch of live chicken from the southern province of Guangdong. Tyrone Siu / Reuters
  • A security guard closes the gate of a live poultry market in Cheung Sha Wan before officials proceed to cull chickens. Philippe Lopez / AFP Photo
    A security guard closes the gate of a live poultry market in Cheung Sha Wan before officials proceed to cull chickens. Philippe Lopez / AFP Photo
  • A health worker in full protective gear walks. A week ago, more than 50 cases had been reported. The virus remains hard to catch and most cases have been linked to contact with poultry. Tyrone Siu / Reuters
    A health worker in full protective gear walks. A week ago, more than 50 cases had been reported. The virus remains hard to catch and most cases have been linked to contact with poultry. Tyrone Siu / Reuters
  • Health workers in full protective gear walk at a wholesale poultry market before culling the poultry in Hong Kong, Tuesday, Jan. 28, 2014. Hong Kong authorities began culling 20,000 birds at the wholesale market after poultry from southern mainland China tested positive for the H7N9 virus, the first time it had been found in imported poultry in Hong Kong. Vincent Yu / AP Photo
    Health workers in full protective gear walk at a wholesale poultry market before culling the poultry in Hong Kong, Tuesday, Jan. 28, 2014. Hong Kong authorities began culling 20,000 birds at the wholesale market after poultry from southern mainland China tested positive for the H7N9 virus, the first time it had been found in imported poultry in Hong Kong. Vincent Yu / AP Photo
  • An official wearing a mask and protective suit carries a disinfectant container. The jump in bird flu cases comes during the 40-day travel period around Chinese New Year, during which Chinese are expected to make 3.6 billion trips as families reunite. Philippe Lopez / AFP Photo
    An official wearing a mask and protective suit carries a disinfectant container. The jump in bird flu cases comes during the 40-day travel period around Chinese New Year, during which Chinese are expected to make 3.6 billion trips as families reunite. Philippe Lopez / AFP Photo
  • Officials wearing masks and protective suits dispose of culled dead chickens. Philippe Lopez / AFP Photo
    Officials wearing masks and protective suits dispose of culled dead chickens. Philippe Lopez / AFP Photo
  • An health officer packs dead chickens. Live poultry trading will be halted in cities in coastal Zhejiang province from Feb. 15, where 49 people have died, according to the Zhejiang Daily, which is run by the province’s propaganda department. From July, city poultry markets will be closed. Tyrone Siu / Reuters
    An health officer packs dead chickens. Live poultry trading will be halted in cities in coastal Zhejiang province from Feb. 15, where 49 people have died, according to the Zhejiang Daily, which is run by the province’s propaganda department. From July, city poultry markets will be closed. Tyrone Siu / Reuters
  • The World Health Organisation says there is no evidence of sustained human-to-human transmission. Tyrone Siu / Reuters
    The World Health Organisation says there is no evidence of sustained human-to-human transmission. Tyrone Siu / Reuters
  • Health workers in full protective gear slaughter chickens by using carbon dioxide. (AP Photo/Vincent Yu)
    Health workers in full protective gear slaughter chickens by using carbon dioxide. (AP Photo/Vincent Yu)
  • The WHO recommends continued vigilance and close monitoring given the population movement before Chinese New Year and potentially unpredictable behaviour of flu viruses. Philippe Lopez / Reuters
    The WHO recommends continued vigilance and close monitoring given the population movement before Chinese New Year and potentially unpredictable behaviour of flu viruses. Philippe Lopez / Reuters
  • worker sanitises the Wholesale Poultry Market. Lam Yik Fei / Getty Images
    worker sanitises the Wholesale Poultry Market. Lam Yik Fei / Getty Images

World

In pictures: Hong Kong begins culling thousands of chickens

Mark Asquith

January 28, 2014

  • English
  • Arabic

Authorities in eastern China said Tuesday they will ban live poultry sales after an increase in the number of people infected with the H7N9 strain of bird flu, with the busy Chinese New Year travel period already under way. Meanwhile in Hong Kong, authorities begin to cull thousands of chickens.

ChinaHong Kong