A dead wild bird found in Tung Ping Chau has indicated a suspected case of H5 avian influenza, a spokesman for the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) of Hong Kong said on Sunday.

The carcass of Crested Myna was collected at Shau Tau, Tung Ping Chau, a small island of Hong Kong, on February 12 and further confirmatory tests were being conducted.

The spokesman said there were no poultry farms within three kilometers of where the dead bird was found.

"In view of the recent cases of H5N1 found in poultry and wild bird carcasses, the AFCD has phoned poultry farmers reminding them to strengthen precautionary and biosecurity measures against avian influenza. Pet bird shop owners, licence holders of pet poultry and racing pigeons have also been reminded to take proper precautions," the spokesman said.

According to the website of the AFCD, there have been 12 confirmed H5N1 cases since January 29, with nine cases resulting from tests on birds collected along Hong Kong's western coastline.

(Xinhua News Agency February 15, 2009)