Hong Kong confirms two dead birds had H5N1 virus

HONG KONG, Feb 13 (Reuters) Hong Kong confirmed today that two birds found in the city last week carried the H5N1 avian influenza virus, bringing the total number of birds officially declared to be infected this year to 10.

The dead silver-eared mesias were discovered in Mong Kok area on February 7 and taken for tests, the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department said.

The H5N1 virus made its first known jump to humans in Hong Kong in 1997, killing six people. So far, it cannot be passed easily from human to human, but experts fear the virus could mutate and cause a pandemic, killing millions.

REUTERS DKA VV1740