China's health minister said there are no new cases of H5N1 infections after a bird flu strain was found in geese in Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.

The mainland will continue to inform Hong Kong's health authorities on any new developments, added the Minister of Health Gao Qiang.

Gao said this yesterday at the foundation-laying ceremony of Hong Kong's new infectious disease centre at Queen Margaret Hospital.

"Strict control measures have been implemented after H5N1 bird flu was discovered in the area, and experts from Beijing have been sent to assess the situation and to find the source of the infection," he told reporters.

Gao stressed that the appearance of bird flu in the region will not affect Hong Kong.

"Hong Kong citizens need not worry and they can eat as much chicken as they want during the upcoming Dragon Boat Festival," he said.

The health minister said there is no evidence indicating that the H5N1 strain can be transmitted between humans, and local citizens should not be too concerned.

According to Xinjiang government, initial investigations have shown that the latest outbreak was caused by migrating birds, while the situation is now under control.

Over 17,000 poultry birds including chicken and geese have been culled in the area, while no new infections have been found in the past five days.

Meanwhile, Secretary for Health, Welfare and Food York Chow said 15 people, who were injured on a Hong Kong-bound Cathay Pacific flight from Manila, were in good condition. He said this after visiting them yesterday afternoon.

Passengers and members of the cabin crew were injured after the Cathay Pacific jetliner ran into turbulence. The flight number was confirmed to be CX906, which carried 352 passengers.

"They are all fine. Some suffered minor bruises or cuts, a few of them needed stitches," Chow said at the ceremony.

Twelve other passengers said they were feeling ill and received medical checks after the flight landed at Hong Kong's Chek Lap Kok Airport.

(HK Edition 06/11/2005 page2)