December 16, 1997
The Inter-departmental Co-ordinating Committee set up to co-ordinate efforts of the various departments on the control of avian flu met for the first time this (Tuesday) morning.
After reviewing the initial assessment of the first six confirmed cases and three suspected cases on the new strain of Influenza A H5N1 in human, a list of preventive measures had been worked out.
Speaking at a press conference, Deputy Director of Health and Chairman of the Working Group, Dr Paul Saw said:"Since the first few cases were discovered, surveillance has been set up to detect wider spectrum of presentation of the cases to provide more information on the new strain and its mode of transmission."
In addition to extending the surveillance centres to all General Out-patients Clinics, the Department of Health would enlist private doctors to participate in sentinel surveillance.
To cope with the workload, laboratory capacity to handle influenza virus would be increased to 2 000 per month.
The Department would keep the public and doctors abreast of the latest development through regular release of information.
Publicity on how to prevent influenza in general will be stepped up. TV and radio announcements will be broadcast from Thursday (Dec 18). This will be supplemented by hotlines for enquiry (2833 0112) and education (2833 0111) as well as publicity leaflet on the avian flu.
Measures taken or to be taken by other government departments include:
Agriculture and Fisheries Department
Monitor the tightened control of poultry exported from mainland to Hong Kong, the new arrangements of which only allow chicken to be exported from farms whose disease status is monitored by officials
Conduct surveillance of imported chicken for H5N1 at Man Kam To Border Entry Point
Continue to survey local chicken for H5N1
Investigate diseases and unusual deaths reported in wholesale and retail markets
Improve environmental hygiene at wholesale markets
Work on the issue of a prohibition order to prevent the importation of live chickens other than those that are derived from farms certified free from the disease by the Veterinary Officer of the exporting country
Urban Services Department and Regional Services Department
Issue guidelines to all operators of food premises, fresh provision shops and market stalls for handling poultry.
Improve environmental hygiene at public markets and fresh provision shops.
Establish reporting channels to Agriculture and Fisheries Department on sudden poultry deaths and abnormal numbers of poultry showing symptoms of infection.
Monitor the health situation of birds kept by the two departments
Education Department and Social Welfare Department
Issue information note to school and child care centres drawing their attention to preventive measures and most up-to-date situation where necessary.
Hospital Authority
Inform the Department of Health promptly on suspected cases to enable early investigation
Dr Saw pointed that the Government was concerned with the present number of cases of Influenza A H5N1 in human and considered it necessary to introduce preventive measures to protect public health. The measures would be reviewed in light of future findings and developments.