China border bird flu alert

HONG KONG - Hong Kong is increasing surveillance at border crossings with mainland China after Beijing confirmed the country's first human death from bird flu.

Temperature screening machines at the Lo Wu and Lok Ma Chau border checkpoints were to be reactivated within 48 hours, the Government said yesterday.

The border crossings between Hong Kong and China are among the busiest in the world, with hundreds of thousands of workers, businesspeople and tourists making the trip each day.

People detected with high temperatures - one of the symptoms of bird flu - will be tested again and interviewed by medical officers to determine if they fall into a high-risk category. If so, they will be sent to hospital.

Chinese officials said that bird flu had killed at least one person in the country. One victim in eastern Anhui province had died and another in the central province of Hunan was suspected of having been killed by the deadly H5N1 strain of bird flu, China's official Xinhua news agency reported.

The Hong Kong Government said it would distribute leaflets and broadcast health messages at border crossings with China.

- REUTERS