Health Secretary explains unprecedented action to isolate housing block

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Hong Kong had taken an unprecedented action by ordering the isolation of a housing estate block for 10 days from early this morning, Secretary for Health, Welfare and Food, Dr Yeoh Eng-kiong, said today (March 31).

It was a course of action the Government had never undertaken before and he hoped would never have to repeat. However, it was made necessary by a very large outbreak of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome, or atypical pneumonia, in Block E of Amoy Gardens.

Dr Yeoh said 213 residents were admitted with suspected atypical pneumonia, 107 of them from Block E. Most of these 107 were from units 7 and 8, which were arranged vertically, and the site was being investigated to find any particular reasons for the apparent vertical spread of the disease.

Addressing a press conference accompanied by the Director of Health, Dr Margaret Chan, the Director of Social Welfare, Mrs Carrie Lam, and the Acting Director of Home Affairs, Miss Janet Wong, Dr Yeoh thanked the housing estate residents for their co-operation with the isolation order.

Most residents understood the reason for the order, which meant that no one may enter or leave the building without written permission from a health officer, who is a Department of Health doctor.

Dr Yeoh said some Amoy Gardens residents had moved out of their apartments before the isolation order was issued and he appealed for them to contact the Department of Health to arrange for a check up.

To protect themselves, their families and the community, residents of Amoy Gardens who have moved out should contact the Department of Health as soon as possible so that any infection can be detected and treated at an early stage, he added.

Miss Wong said residents were handed a letter of notification under the Prevention of the Spread of Infectious Diseases Regulations in an operation involving staff from the Health Department, Social Welfare Department and Police. Residents had been provided with breakfast and would receive further meals at 1 pm and 7 pm, she said.

Dr Yeoh said the Department of Health was working flat out to see what caused the disease to multiply so rapidly at Amoy Gardens Block E. He said the virus was highly infectious and was spread by droplets. However, it could be killed by a solution of common household bleach.

The existing Ribavirin/steroid treatment was producing a very good response in the majority of cases, he said.

Hong Kong faced a crisis and the government would all it could to overcome it, but it needed the co-operation of every member of the community to fight the spread of this disease, he said.

Mrs Lam said that in addition to support services available through the Social Welfare Department's hotline (2343 2255), the Department has complemented Home Affairs Department's efforts in setting up a health team comprising professional workers at Amoy Gardens. Affected residents with emotional or psychological distress during the isolation period may seek help from a special hotline (2340 8471) for the purpose.

She also mentioned that details were being drawn up for a scheme to provide emergency financial assistance for people affected by the isolation order or who were being asked to turn up for Health Department medical surveillance.

The Home Affairs Department have set up hotlines 9617 1785 or 9408 3253 for arrangements in Amoy Gardens. Residents who had moved out of their apartments before the isolation order should contact the Department of Health via its hotline 187 2222.

End/Monday, March 31, 2003

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