Press Release
Consensus reached at Tripartite Meeting on Infectious Diseases
12 Jan 2011
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 and other mosquito-borne diseases, enterovirus infection and measles.
The consensus was reached at the Tenth Tripartite Meeting of Guangdong, Macao and Hong Kong on the Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases held in Hong Kong yesterday and today (January 11 and 12).
During the two-day meeting, public health and medical experts of the three places reviewed their collaboration in the surveillance, prevention and control of infectious diseases and the notification system.
They also had comprehensive and in-depth discussions and experience sharing in communicable diseases particularly dengue fever and other mosquito-borne diseases, prevention and control of influenza, the situation of enterovirus infection, communicable disease information systems and the work on measles elimination.
The meeting also reviewed the situation of prevention and control of Influenza A (H1N1) (Human Swine Influenza (HSI)) in the three places since the signing of the memorandum of understanding on cooperation of H1N1 prevention and treatment in 2009. Members discussed in details the trend of influenza infection, the experience in the implementation of influenza vaccination programme and the way forward of the preparedness plan for influenza pandemic.
After thorough discussion, consensus on the following subjects were reached:
＊ to continue strengthening the response system for public health incidents and major infectious diseases by implementing thoroughly the agreement of cooperation on emergency public health incidents in the three places
＊ to continue refining the notification system
＊ to continue enhancing communication and cooperation in the preparedness for influenza pandemic to reduce the health, social and economic impacts on the three places caused by Influenza A (H1N1)(HSI).
＊ to continue co-operation on exchanges and training of health care professionals in disease surveillance and outbreak investigations, field epidemiology, contingency management, laboratory tests and infection control.
＊ to foster co-operation in scientific researches on infectious diseases, including enterovirus infection, mosquito-borne diseases and measles elimination.
Members agreed that the Department of Health Bureau of Macao would organise the eleventh tripartite meeting.
Participating in the meeting were the Associate Director of the Department of Health of Guangdong Province, Mr Huang Fei; the Director of the Health Bureau of Macao, Dr Lei Chin Ion; the Director of Health of Hong Kong SAR, Dr PY Lam and about 60 experts on infectious diseases from the three places.
