Hong Kong has culled 20,000 chickens and closed a major poultry market after the bird flu virus was discovered.
Authorities have banned local farms from selling to the Cheung Sha Wan poultry market just two days before Chinese New Year, when traders usually see a big boost in sales.
The city has also blocked imports of fresh chicken from mainland China for 21 days after the H7N9 virus was discovered in a shipment from the southern province of Guangdong.
The market will also remain closed for 21 days until February 18 for cleaning and disinfection.
The H7N9 virus passes easily between birds and could develop the ability to spread from human-to-human, causing a global pandemic.
Staff members of Hong Kong Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department have carried out the cull today, gassing the chickens with carbon dioxide.
Two people infected with H7N9 bird flu have died in Hong Kong and a third patient is being treated. All three were infected during visits to the southern Chinese city of Shenzhen.
