The Chief Executive, Mr Chui Sai On, convened an inter-departmental meeting last night to discuss stepped-up preventative measures to be taken after the H7-type avian flu virus was tested positive in a sample of imported live poultry isolated in a wholesale market and in two environmental samples in two wet markets.

The meeting, convened at 8,30 pm at the Government Headquarters, were attended by the Secretary for Administration and Justice, Ms Florinda Chan; Chief-of-Cabinet of the Office of the Chief Executive, Mr Tam Chon Weng; Secretary-General of the Executive Council, Ms O Lam; Chief-of-Cabinet of the Office of the Secretary for Administration and Justice; Ms Cheong Chui Ling; Director of the Government Information Bureau, Mr Victor Chan Chi Ping; Director of the Health Bureau, Mr Vong Iao Lek; Acting President of the Civil and Municipal Affairs Bureau, Mr Vong Iao Lek; and others officials.

Mr Vong reported to the Chief Executive that they had informed the Health Bureau right after two environmental samples found in two wet markets had been tested positive with the H7-type avian influenza virus and the Health Bureau had immediately stepped up measures to prevent and control the spread of the virus, and to promote the importance of personal hygiene.

Mr Chui instructed the officials from the Civil and Municipal Affairs Bureau and the Health Bureau that it is compulsory to keep the public informed of the latest situation and of the prevention and control measures to be taken by the Government. He stressed that in any public crisis, the Government’s top priority is to protect people’s lives and health.

To date there has been no reports of any person contracting the virus, but the Government would closely monitor the situation and formulate a comprehensive plan to prevent its spread to human in line with the World Health Organization guidelines, said the Chief Executive.

He also said that Macao has to keep in close contact with the National Health and Family Planning Commission, Genarl Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine, the World Health Organization, and the neighbouring region, and to exchange the latest information with Guangdong and Hong Kong via the Mainland, Hong Kong and Macao Health Emergency Response Mechanism.

The H7-type virus was tested positive in a sample batch of live poultry imported from the Mainland H7 avian flu virus on 12 March and the poultry wholesale market was sealed off immediately and sterilized after the culling of about 7,500 chickens quarantined there awaiting test results. The sale of all live poultry in Macao has been suspended for 21 days, in line with the World Health Organization guidelines.