Hong Kong and mainland's Guangdong Province health experts have probed ways for collaboration in laboratory testing to further strengthen ties against avian flu.

According to a government press release on Tuesday, the strengthening of ties in lab testing was discussed during a meeting of health officials from Guangdong Province, Hong Kong and Macao special administrative region in Guangzhou City on Monday.

The Hong Kong delegation was led by Principal Medical Officer SK Chuang.

They also discussed the investigation progress of the fatal human avian flu case in Guangzhou recently. The Guangdong Center for Disease Control & Prevention said there are no suspected human avian influenza infections in the province at the moment.

Studies are being conducted to learn how the patient acquired the infection, and the markets he visited are being checked. Checks for severe pneumonia cases since January are being conducted to identify undiagnosed human avian influenza cases.

Over 120 contacts of the deceased have been put under medical surveillance and surveillance of severe pneumonia cases of unknown causes has also been enhanced in the province.

(Xinhua News Agency March 8, 2006)