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The Director of Health has confirmed with the World Health Organization (WHO) that Hong Kong is not at the highest level of risk for the resurgence of the SARS virus.
However, Hong Kong is fully prepared for SARS and adopts the highest vigilance possible for the detection of the SARS virus.
In response to media enquiries, a spokesman for the Department of Health today (October 23) said that Hong Kong had implemented a heightened surveillance system for SARS and developed comprehensive contingency measures against SARS.
"Hong Kong has an advanced laboratory capacity to test for SARS. The Public Health Laboratory Centre provides a free laboratory service and public health consultation service to the medical sector," the Director said.
"While Hong Kong had local transmission of SARS during the outbreak earlier this year, Hong Kong was not identified as a source of the SARS outbreak in November 2002."
Ends/Thursday, October 23, 2003
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