20 May 2009
A spokesman for the Department of Health (DH) said today (May 20) that an updated strategy would be implemented on persons identified to have close contact with patients infected with human swine influenza (Influenza A H1N1).
The spokesman said the government had refined the general guidance for management of close contacts having regard to new developments in the understanding of human swine influenza (HSI).
"These include the latest global trend especially the large number of travelers from countries where community transmission is evident, latest information about HSI from the World Health Assembly especially the relatively milder severity of disease and limited genetic mutability so far, and the effectiveness of chemoprophylaxis which is also borne out by our local experience with quarantine and treatment.
"The objective of the containment strategy can be reasonably achieved so long as we can maintain good adherence to chemoprophylaxis supplemented by personal protective measures and close medical surveillance for symptoms and isolation as necessary," the spokesman said.
To implement the new strategy, the spokesman said the department would administer directly observed chemoprophylaxis (DOC) plus medical surveillance as an alternative to quarantine for close contacts. This ensures total compliance with taking of chemoprophylaxis under medical supervision on site by DH health professionals.
"Starting tomorrow at 9 am, close contacts who commit to undergo DOC will not be required to be quarantined at holiday camps. Instead, they will be prescribed with oseltamivir (Tamiflu) prophylaxis supervised by medical professionals," he said.
The first dose will be taken at the medical post in holiday camp under the supervision of DH medical staff. The medical post is manned round the clock.
After taking the first dose of Tamiflu, close contacts will be required to attend on a daily basis one of five DH Chest Clinics providing DOC and medical surveillance on their health status.
These Chest Clinics are Wan Chai Chest Clinic, East Kowloon Chest Clinic, Yau Ma Tei Chest Clinic, Yan Oi Chest Clinic, and Yuen Chau Kok Chest Clinic. Health advice will be provided on observance of personal protective measures such as wearing of face masks and keeping of good personal hygiene.
"The same arrangement will apply to those presently under quarantine at holiday camps. Quarantine will be maintained for those who fail to adhere to DOC and medical surveillance, and may still be applied in exceptional circumstances where the situation warrants," the spokesman said.
The spokesman emphasized that contacts are different in nature to HSI patients, and that Tamiflu effectively reduces viral load and infection risk to others. The chance of getting infected from close contacts under DOC has been demonstrably negligible.