MACAO, March 13 -- Macao's Civic and Municipal Affairs Bureau (IACM) and the Health Bureau (SSM) announced early Thursday morning that H7 avian influenza virus was tested positive in samples of live chicken imported from the mainland, and all 7,500 live chicken in the wholesale market have been culled.

This was released during a hastily called press conference after midnight of Wednesday.

IACM said that the bureau detected the H7-type avian influenza virus in sample tests for 1,000 live chickens imported from Doumen district of Zhuhai, Guangdong Province, at 10.30 p.m. Wednesday.

The bureau has implemented a contingency plan. They immediately sealed off the poultry section of the local wholesale market and have banned all live birds from leaving the market. And for public safety, all 7,500 live chicken in the market have also been destroyed.

Moreover, the government has decided to temporarily stop the import of live poultry for 21 days from Thursday, which means that there will be no live birds supply to local markets.

SSM stressed that none of the 30 workers who were in contact with the poultry have displayed any flu-like symptoms. And they will undergo a 10-day medical observation by the health bureau.