Press Release
SFH inpects table-top Exercise TOPAZ on interdepartmental preparedness for Ebola
14 November 2014
The Secretary for Food and Health, Dr Ko Wing-man, and the Controller of the Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health (DH), Dr Leung Ting-hung, jointly inspected a table-top exercise codenamed TOPAZ conducted by the CHP in the Public Health Laboratory Centre (PHLC) in Shek Kip Mei this morning (November 14) as a further drill under the Preparedness and Response Plan for Ebola virus disease of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (the Plan).
"Exercise is necessary in dealing with pandemics. Although experts' risk assessment of importation of Ebola virus to Hong Kong remains low, the Government is committed to the prevention of Ebola. Apart from possible suspected cases at the airport and other boundary control points, patients might have different local movements during the incubation period. We should therefore strengthen training to better prepare for details of the Plan," Dr Ko said.
"In collaboration with 20 government bureaux/departments (B/Ds) and organisations, the exercise today tested the activation and adjustment of appropriate response levels and the command structure as well as the implementation of corresponding public health response measures under various scenarios with a view to enhancing preparedness and responsiveness of relevant stakeholders to Ebola," a spokesman for the DH said.
Under the simulation, a patient returned to Hong Kong from an Ebola-affected country by air and developed compatible symptoms after arrival. Upon laboratory confirmation as an Ebola case, the CHP's epidemiological investigations located the patient's close contacts, including home contact and other contacts at her workplace. The scenario also involved a large number of travellers from an Ebola-affected country who attended Accident and Emergency Departments of various hospitals and were also suspected of Ebola.
The exercise tested the Government's response and decision-making, including isolation, evacuation and disinfection of the patient's home and workplace as well as the opening of a quarantine camp to receive the close contacts. Relevant B/Ds and organisations proceeded to corresponding public health response measures, including surveillance, investigation and control measures, laboratory support, infection control measures, provision of medical services, review of vaccination and medication strategies, port health measures and communication.
"The exercise again provided a valuable opportunity for relevant parties to test their preparedness and identify areas for improvement. The Government is committed to maintaining preparedness against Ebola," the spokesman said.
"Exercise TOPAZ involves a series of multi-agency drills based on the Plan launched on August 20 with the Alert Response Level activated accordingly. The first phase was a household disinfection exercise held on October 29 and an investigation and disinfection exercise conducted in a guesthouse setting was held on November 6 . We will continue to conduct interdepartmental exercises with government B/Ds, organisations and stakeholders concerned in close partnership," the spokesman added.
Participating B/Ds and organisations today include the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department, the Airport Authority Hong Kong, the Auxiliary Medical Service, the Civil Aid Service, the Education Bureau, the Environmental Protection Department, the Hong Kong Fire Services Department, the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department, the Government Logistics Department, the DH, the Home Affairs Department, the Hong Kong Police Force, the Hospital Authority, the Housing Department, the Immigration Department, the Information Services Department, the Labour Department, the Leisure and Cultural Services Department, the MTR Corporation Limited, the Social Welfare Department and the Transport Department.
After the exercise, Dr Ko visited the CHP's Public Health Laboratory Services Branch (PHLSB) in the PHLC on its preparedness and response in case of local pandemic outbreaks. The PHLSB conducts sensitive laboratory tests on Ebola virus and is capable of providing preliminary results within hours and confirmatory results after one day.
