Hong Kong went into alert this week when a dead magpie found in an urban area of the region tested positive for the H5N1 avian influenza virus.

Hong Kong government officials confirmed the magpie’s contamination with the bird flu virus Friday. The bird was found last week in Shatin in the New Territories, a busy urban area. This is the 17th wild bird to have strayed from its course this year and being found dead in Hong King.

Hong Kong has not been confronted with human cases of bird flu sine 1997, when six people out of 18 infected lost their lives. Authorities took immediate action at the time, with strict controls and numerous precautionary measures.

According to the World Health Organization, the bird flu virus has killed 189 people from around the world in the past 4 years. The organization also says the H5N1 virus has infected 310 people in 12 countries in Asia and Africa since 2003.

In China, 25 infections and 16 deaths have been registered.

People are urged to refrain from contact with wild birds and live poultry and to observe strict personal hygiene.