An employee of a pet store was diagnosed with new coronary pneumonia, and Hong Kong was suspected of the world's first hamster transmission case.
The government also calls on citizens who bought hamsters after December 22 to hand over their small pets. The authorities will test them for the virus. If they are positive, the owner will be asked to quarantine. Regardless of the result, the handed over hamsters will be humanely destroyed.
Yuan Guoyong, a government expert advisor and chair professor of the Department of Microbiology at the University of Hong Kong, praised the move as "decisive" when he met with reporters yesterday.
Yuan Guoyong said on a commercial program this morning (19th) that he knew that this was an "unpopular decision" and that Hong Kong people attached great importance to the lives of small animals, but believed that there had been a hidden transmission chain among hamsters, which was a sign of immunity. Expansion, humane destruction is the only option, a choice must be made between humans and animals.
It is expected that the public's reaction will be greater
Yuan Guoyong pointed out that the environmental samples of the storefront and warehouse of the pet store involved have been tested positive for the new coronavirus, and according to the existing information, it is believed that they have been infected before they were transported to Hong Kong, indicating that there has been a hidden transmission chain between hamsters, which must be within a short period of time. The AFCD also does not have the ability, place and resources to effectively isolate and test hamsters within the time limit to make a decision. "Since this is the case, they can only make this decision that everyone is unpopular." He also revealed that yesterday It has been discussed for a long time.
He pointed out that up to now, there is no final result of the gene sequencing of infected persons and hamster virus, but based on the epidemiological evidence currently available, it is believed that the results are related to hamsters, emphasizing that decisions are made every half a day. , many things can happen.
He pointed out that as a doctor and a scientist, we must respect life, but from the perspective of epidemic prevention and public health, we must think clearly about what is best for everyone. Just like the H5N1 bird flu incident in 1997, the government needed to slaughter 1.2 million chickens.
He said that this has gone beyond the scope of being a scientist, but is a matter of value attitude. I believe that it is difficult for the Secretary for Food and Health, Chen Zhaoshi, to do it.
"We expected early in the morning that the reaction would be bigger."
Received an email "call me to die"
Yuan Guoyong pointed out that it is not necessary to destroy hamsters humanely, but because the vaccination rate of the new crown in Hong Kong is not high enough, especially the elderly.
According to the experience of past epidemics, as long as one case flows into the community to cause an epidemic, it may cause the death of more than 100 elderly people. The lives of the elderly are equally precious. "We have to make a choice. This is a bad choice, but I According to the tools and resources of the government and the AFCD, this is the only thing they can do." He also revealed that after his remarks yesterday, "I have received an e-mail telling me to die." .
Yuan Guoyong said that he understands that Hong Kong people attach great importance to the lives of small animals, and thinks it is a good thing. In the past, there were outbreaks in the market, and some people planned to abandon cats. He also stopped it.
But he admits that testing hamsters is not easy, and not many veterinarians can do it.
Rat Killing Order｜Little Boss, Causeway Bay, Causeway Bay, AFCD Humanely Destroyed Animals and Put Red Plastic Bags to Take It away The hamsters that need to be killed cannot be tested one by one