The Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department reprimanded that someone outside the New Territories South Animal Management Centre obstructed the handing over of hamsters by the public and the acceptance of hamsters originally intended to be handed over to the AFCD.
The authorities emphasized that this act hindered the work of the department and may pose a health risk to itself and the public, and asked the relevant parties to stop these acts and return the hamsters that had been taken, saying that the incident had been reported to the police.
A spokesman for the AFCD said, "The AFCD strongly advises the public to hand over hamsters purchased from local pet stores on or after December 22 last year to the department for humane treatment. The Department of Nursing found that several hamster samples taken from the pet shop were also positive for COVID-19 virus, so there is evidence that the hamsters concerned have been infected with the virus. Hamsters may not become ill immediately after being infected, even if the current test is negative and there is no evidence of infection. It does not mean that the hamsters in question are necessarily uninfected, in other words, contacting or keeping these hamsters can lead to the risk of infection and virus transmission."
The spokesman reiterated: "According to the department's records, only two batches of hamsters on December 22 last year and January 7 this year were imported into Hong Kong recently. After consultation with experts, the AFCD concluded that these two batches of hamsters were infected with 2019-nCoV. The risk of viral diseases is relatively high, while the risk associated with hamsters previously imported into Hong Kong is relatively low. Therefore, the AFCD strongly advises the public to hand over hamsters purchased at pet stores in Hong Kong on or after 22 December last year to the department for humane care As for the previously purchased hamsters, the public can continue to raise them.”
The New Territories South Animal Management Centre has received a total of 68 hamsters as of yesterday.
Under the premise of safeguarding public health, the spokesperson asked them to immediately stop obstructing citizens from handing over hamsters and return the hamsters that have been taken.
The Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department reported the incident to the police yesterday. If the person concerned continues the act or fails to return the hamster that has been taken away, the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department will seriously follow up and hand it over to the police for handling.
▼1.20 Volunteers went to the New Territories South Animal Management Center to "Save the Rats"▼
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