Hong Kong health authorities report that an environmental sample from Wo Che Market in Sha Tin tests positive for H9 avian influenza following a confirmed infection in a young child. The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) says a two-year-old boy who visited the market becomes ill and is diagnosed with H9N2. The boy is later described as stable. In parallel, authorities test samples taken from the market; a sample from the venue is confirmed positive for H9, indicating the virus is present in the environment. CHP states that while the finding is reported promptly, the risk of a serious bird flu outbreak is considered low.
Separately, the market’s poultry operations are adjusted as a precaution. One live poultry stall inside Wo Che Market temporarily suspends operations and undergoes disinfection after the environmental trace is detected. Staff are seen cleaning and scrubbing areas associated with live birds. Officials say they continue to follow up on the boy’s case and the market’s exposure circumstances. Shoppers are generally reported as remaining largely unfazed.
