CDC warns travelers to Hong Kong of avian flu

“Nationals who plan to go to Hong Kong should avoid any contact with birds and poultry,” said the CDC in a statement.

The agency also warned travelers against bringing birds back to Taiwan from China or Hong Kong.

According to the CDC, the bird-flu virus can be found on birds or their excrement, and can infect humans if it is inhaled or makes contact with a person’s eyes and nose.

Hong Kong authorities recently found several chickens in retail markets infected with the H5N1 bird-flu virus. To avoid further contamination, they slaughtered 2,700 chickens and banned the import of live poultry from China.

Avian flu caused six deaths in Hong Kong in 1997 and no major outbreaks have occurred there since, according to World Health Organization figures. Taiwan, to date, has not been seriously affected by the disease.

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