HONG KONG: Two dead birds found in Hong Kong last week carried the fatal H5N1 strain of bird flu, taking to seven the number of birds found with the virus this year, authorities said on Monday.

The agricultural department said laboratory tests had confirmed that the peregrine falcon and house crow had carried the H5N1 strain.

A department spokesman urged people to remain vigilant over the dangers posed by avian flu.

"They should avoid personal contact with wild birds and live poultry and clean their hands thoroughly after coming into contact with them," he said.

Hong Kong was the scene of the world's first reported major bird flu outbreak among humans in 1997, when six people died of a then-unknown mutation of the avian flu virus. Millions of poultry were culled.

The H5N1 strain is potentially deadly to humans. Bird flu has killed more than 160 people worldwide since late 2003 and there are fears it could mutate and trigger a deadly human flu pandemic. - AFP/so