KARUNA SHINSHO, CNN ANCHOR: Authorities in Hong Kong are taking measures to prevent another outbreak of the so-called bird flu. In 1997, six people died in a similar outbreak. More than a million chickens were slaughtered to control the disease. As Mike Chinoy reports, the government is moving quickly to contain the current outbreak.</s>MIKE CHINOY, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): In Hong Kong's food markets, chickens are dying from disease again, and anxiety is mounting, as authorities struggle to halt new outbreak of bird flu. It's called H5N1, a virus which normally only affects poultry. In 1997, however, a strain of the virus crossed over into human. Six people died here, many more became ill. And the Hong Kong government, fearing the virus could spark a worldwide, pandemic ordered the slaughter of 1.5 million chickens in the territory. Experts say this latest outbreak is caused by a different but related strain of the virus, and they can't rule out the same thing happening again. The result: After several hundred chickens died of the disease earlier this week, the government slaughtered over 6,000 more, and local officials are watching the situation closely.</s>WONG KAI-HAY, HK AGR. AND FISHERIES DEPT. (through translator): With this bird flu, it is possible for a bird to be fine one moment and dead 10 minutes later, you can't tell by looking at them. If a farm is not kept clean enough, there's chance it can be transmitted from chicken to chicken.</s>CHINOY: As news of the outbreak has spread, the effected markets remained shut, and elsewhere, many local consumers have lost their appetite for chicken. "I don't dare buy chicken now," says this woman. "I'm afraid of the virus."</s>CHINOY: In 1997, the Hong Kong government came under sharp criticism for failing to respond to the bird flu outbreak quickly enough. By moving immediately to slaughter thousands of chickens, the authorities are hoping to avoid such criticism now, and to ensure that this time, the disease does not pose threat to humans. Mike Chinoy, CNN, Hong Kong.
Hong Kong Government Moving Quickly to Contain `Bird Flu' Outbreak