Press Releases
Interdepartmental meeting on latest risk assessment, prevention and control of infectious disease (with photos)
The Secretary for Food and Health chaired an interdepartmental meeting on
infectious disease this morning (October 20) on the latest local risk
assessment and prevention and control measures against Ebola virus disease
(EVD), Middle East Respiratory Syndrome, avian influenza and dengue fever
with the Department of Health (DH), the Hospital Authority, the Agriculture,
Fisheries and Conservation Department, and the Food and Environmental
Hygiene Department to better safeguard Hong Kong from infectious diseases.
The World Health Organization (WHO) declared on August 8 the EVD outbreak in
West Africa a Public Health Emergency of International Concern. The WHO's
Emergency Committee met twice and recommended Member States not to apply any
international travel or trade restrictions, but education to travellers and
the public as well as the enhancement of detection, investigation and
management of EVD cases. The WHO also appealed to affected countries to
better engage the transport sector for screening of outbound travellers, and
to ensure adequate protection and training for health-care workers.
As of October 17, a total of 9 216 EVD cases have been reported to the WHO,
including 4 555 deaths. The other outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the
Congo has recorded 68 cases so far, including 49 deaths. Locally, the Centre
for Health Protection (CHP) of the DH has been notified of only one
suspected EVD case thus far whose specimen tested negative for Ebola virus.
"The Preparedness and Response Plan for EVD of the Government of the Hong
Kong Special Administrative Region has been launched on August 20 and the
Alert Response Level has been activated in parallel. While the risk of
importation of EVD to Hong Kong exists, members of the public should remain
vigilant. We again urge travellers to avoid unnecessary travel to affected
countries," said the Controller of the CHP, Dr Leung Ting-hung, at a press
conference after the interdepartmental meeting.
Enhanced surveillance
---------------------
In Hong Kong, EVD has been a statutorily notifiable infectious disease under
viral haemorrhagic fever under the Prevention and Control of Disease
Ordinance (Cap 599) since July 2008. Any suspected or confirmed case is
statutorily required to be notified to the CHP.
"Taking into account the WHO's latest recommendations and epidemiological
experience of overseas cases, the CHP will revise the reporting criteria of
EVD cases, lowering the body temperature of fever patients suspected of
having EVD from 38 degrees Celsius to 37.5 degrees C, with a view to
broadening surveillance over patients with low-grade fever possibly at the
early stage of infection of Ebola virus," Dr Leung explained.
The CHP will issue letters to doctors and private hospitals across the
territory on the revision of reporting criteria and solicit their support to
promptly notify suspected cases to the CHP.
Enhanced public education
-------------------------
The DH has been closely working with its partners to provide regular updates
on the latest disease situation and solicit their collaboration in
disseminating health information. They are government bureaux/departments,
including the Home Affairs Department, the Transport Department and the
Housing Department; District Councils; Healthy Cities projects at the
district level; and non-governmental organisations.
Targeting specific population groups, including the local African community,
the CHP earlier visited guesthouses in relevant buildings to deliver health
advice, pamphlets and posters, followed by health talks and briefings for
representatives of guesthouses in Yau Tsim Mong District as well as
management companies and owners' corporations of relevant buildings.
The CHP held briefings for private hospitals and relevant government
departments as well as the hotel and guesthouse industry to provide updates
on the latest epidemiology of, infection control for and preparedness
against EVD. Health talks have also been delivered to community
organisations, hotel and guesthouse operators, public and private property
management bodies and transport operators.
"The DH will continue to closely monitor the latest developments of the
overseas situation and communicate with the WHO as well as the Mainland and
neighbouring health authorities to exchange information and updates on
preventive and control measures, and will modify the local response and
health surveillance if necessary," Dr Leung added.
Ends/Monday, October 20, 2014
Issued at HKT 18:51
NNNN
Photo1
Photo2