Consensus reached at tripartite meeting on infectious diseases

27 Jun 2008

Guangdong, Macao and Hong Kong health authorities have agreed to further strengthen mutual communication and co-operation in combating infectious diseases, including stepping up alertness in the prevention and control of dengue fever, AIDS, tuberculosis, enterovirus infection and plague.

The consensus was reached at the eighth tripartite meeting of Guangdong, Macao and Hong Kong on the Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases held in Hong Kong yesterday and today (June 26 and 27).

Leading their delegations in the meeting were the Director of the Health Bureau of Macao, Dr Lei Chin Ion, Associated Director of the Department of Health of Guangdong Province, Mr Huang Fei and the Director of Health of Hong Kong, Dr Lam Ping-yan.

During the two-day meeting, they reviewed the situation and trend of major infectious diseases, including dengue fever, AIDS, tuberculosis, enterovirus infection and seasonal influenza outbreaks and plague in the three places and exchanged experience in the preparedness for vaccine preventable diseases, anti-microbial resistance and the implementation of the International Health Regulations.

They reviewed their work since the last tripartite meeting in Hong Kong in July, 2007, which included the progress in information exchange, the notification mechanism and co-operation in scientific research as well as exchange programmes of medical professionals.

After thorough discussion, the meeting reached the following consensus:

(1) The notification mechanism has been working smoothly, resulting in effective exchange of information on infectious diseases. The membership lists of the corresponding parties of the three places in the communication and notification mechanism were updated during the meeting.

(2) Co-operation in scientific research on influenza and dengue fever has made good progress. The three places agreed to further develop and make use of information technology system to improve the surveillance on vector and vector-borne diseases. They will also make use of molecular biotechnology to conduct studies to trace the source of dengue fever in the three places.

(3) Training activities on disease surveillance, field epidemiology, media skills, infection control management and laboratory testing were useful, and should be continued and extended to cover other areas.

It was agreed that the ninth tripartite meeting would be held in Guangdong in 2009.