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A team of public health, veterinary, clinical and microbiology experts, led by the Controller of the Centre for Health Protection, Dr PY Leung, will return from Bangkok later today (October 13) after a two-day meeting with their Thailand counterparts on the current situation of avian flu in the country.

During their visit to Thailand, the Hong Kong expert team met with medical and public health professionals of the Department of Disease Control of the Ministry of Public Health as well as the Department of Livestock Development of the Ministry of Agriculture.

In the meetings, the Thai health officials introduced the latest situation regarding avian influenza and the control measures being implemented to safeguard public health.

Experts of the two places exchanged their experiences in the fight against avian influenza and discussed a wide range of issues related to the disease, including disease surveillance, laboratory investigations, clinical management and disease control strategies.

Both parties agreed that the meeting was a good opportunity for communication and exchange of information on avian influenza between Thailand and Hong Kong.

The Hong Kong expert team also visited public health laboratories, an infectious diseases hospital and a wet market during the two-day meeting.

Dr Leung said the visit was useful as it helped the Hong Kong health and medical authorities obtain the latest information on the avian influenza situation in Thailand, how their overseas counterpart is addressing the issue as well as the impact of the outbreak to the local public health agencies.

"The numerous efforts by the Thai Government to control the spread of avian flu and the experience learnt from them could help us fine-tune our anti-avian flu strategy," Dr Leung said.

Members of the expert team included Professor Yuen Kwok-yung, Head of the Department of Microbiology of the University of Hong Kong; Dr Thomas Tsang, Consultant of the Centre for Health Protection; Dr Howard Wong, Senior Veterinary Officer of the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department; and Dr Chu Chung-ming, Senior Medical Officer of the Hospital Authority.

Ends/Wednesday, October 13, 2004

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