Hong Kong on red ant alert BBC News | January 27, 2005 http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/4212457.stm The ants, whose name stems from a burning sensation caused by their sting, are thought to have reached Hong Kong in imported potted plants. The infestation is also threatening the supply of tangerine trees Hong Kong uses to celebrate Chinese New Year. An attack by a swarm of the insects can cause allergic reactions, which, in extremely rare cases, can be fatal. Hong Kong's Health Secretary York Chow announced territory-wide inspections for the native South American ant, after its anthills were found in Hong Kong's rural New Territories. As if that wasn't enough, the infestation is also threatening the supply of tangerine trees from across the border in China, The trees are part of Hong Kong's traditional way of celebrating the lunar new year - coming up on 9 February. But Chinese Customs officers are reported to be holding up shipments of the trees to check if they are infected, and to try to control the spread of the insects. Meanwhile, questions are also being asked about why it took Chinese authorities in neighbouring Guangdong province so long to warn Hong Kong about a problem which first surfaced at least two months ago. It has sparked concern over whether the lessons about better communications, which should have been learned after the deadly Sars virus, have really made an impact. ------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor --------------------~--> In low income neighborhoods, 84% do not own computers. At Network for Good, help bridge the Digital Divide! http://us.click.yahoo.com/S.QlOD/3MnJAA/Zx0JAA/uTGrlB/TM --------------------------------------------------------------------~-> �������������������������������������������������������� This is ZESTGlobal. Post articles on international affairs to [email protected] If you got this mail as a forward, subscribe to ZESTGlobal by sending a blank mail to [EMAIL PROTECTED] OR, if you have a Yahoo! ID, by visiting http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ZESTGlobal/join ==theZESTcommunity====================================== [1] ZESTCurrent: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ZESTCurrent/ [2] ZESTEconomics: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ZESTEconomics/ [3] ZESTGlobal: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ZESTGlobal/ [4] ZESTMedia: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ZESTMedia/ [5] ZESTPoets: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ZESTPoets/ [6] ZESTCaste: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ZESTCaste/ [7] ZESTAlternative: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ZESTAlternative/ [8] TalkZEST: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/TalkZEST/ Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ZESTGlobal/ <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
