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The Department of Health (DH) is proactively taking measures to protect the health of Hong Kong people in light of a suspected SARS case in Guangdong.

At the media briefing today (December 27), the Director of Health, Dr PY Lam, said following notification by the Guangdong authorities, DH was closely watching developments and taking the following precautionary measures:

* maintaining mandatory health declarations and temperature screening checks for passengers arriving from Guangdong

* stepping up broadcasts at boundary check points

* deploying medical staff to distribute health alert cards to passengers arriving by plane from Guangzhou

"Although there is no case in Hong Kong yet, we are mindful of the large volume of population flow between Guangdong and Hong Kong," Dr Lam said.

DH has established communication channels and dialogue with Guangdong authorities and will contact them daily for updates, he said.

"DH will extend the operating hours of the SARS hotline 187 2222 to 9pm today to facilitate enquiries from people returning from or leaving for Guangdong," Dr Lam said. The operating hours of the hotline tomorrow will be from 9am to 9pm.

"For safety's sake, recent travellers to Guangdong who have fever and symptoms of respiratory tract infection should consult their doctors at once," Dr Lam said.

DH has alerted the Hospital Authority and is informing private hospitals, all doctors and laboratory personnel in Hong Kong about the incident.

"They have been reminded to maintain vigilance in infection control and disease reporting," Dr Lam said.

"We will also send letters to all Chinese medicine practitioners to advise them to be vigilant.

"Even though Hong Kong has been free from SARS since early June, members of the public are reminded to remain vigilant and observe good personal hygiene," Dr Lam added.

For prevention of respiratory tract infection, the public is advised to adopt the following precautions:

* Maintain good personal hygiene, and wash hands after sneezing, coughing or blowing the nose;

* Maintain good ventilation;

* Avoid visiting crowded places with poor ventilation;

* Consult a doctor promptly if respiratory symptoms develop;

* Put on a mask if suffering from respiratory tract infection to reduce the chance of spreading the infection to others; and

* Build up good bodily immunity by maintaining a proper diet, exercising regularly, getting adequate rest, reducing stress and avoiding smoking.

For further information on SARS, please visit the website: www.info.gov.hk/info/sars/eindex.htm.

Ends/Saturday, December 27, 2003

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