Preliminary testing of a House Crow found in Sham Shui Po in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region has indicated a suspected case of H5 avian flu, a spokesman for the Hong Kong Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department said Friday.

The spokesman added that further confirmatory tests were being conducted.

The carcass of the House Crow was collected by the department's staff at Yee Kok Court at Sham Shui Po following a public referral on January 22.

The spokesman reminded the public to observe good personal hygiene that they should avoid personal contact with wild birds and live poultry and wash their hands thoroughly after coming into contact with them.

(Xinhua News Agency January 27, 2007)