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The Secretary for Health, Welfare and Food, Dr York Chow, today (November 26) shared Hong Kong's experience in implementing avian influenza preventive measures at the World Health Organization (WHO) and Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Plus Three Member States Health Ministers Meeting in Bangkok, Thailand.

At the ministerial meeting, Dr Chow presented Hong Kong's preventive measures against avian influenza that covered vaccination, regulation of local farms including tightened biosecurity measures, import control, segregation policy, market rest days, hygiene requirements on wholesale and retail markets, and surveillance.

"The continuing outbreaks of avian influenza in the region and the latest scientific studies have all pointed out the need for effective preventive measures against the possibility of a pandemic outbreak," Dr Chow said.

"In particular, we share WHO's concern that the virus may reassort its genes with the human influenza virus, thus acquiring the ability to transmit more easily from human to human.

"We fully support the joint ministerial statement for regional and international collaboration."

He also pledged to offer Hong Kong laboratory facilities and expertise through China and the WHO for the purpose of investigation, testing and research development.

"It is our policy to separate humans from live poultry. Our mission is to minimise the contact between the public and live poultry through various means, including considering central or regional slaughtering for chickens in Hong Kong," he said.

Dr Chow said the Centre for Health Protection was working to refine its Contingency Plan for Avian Influenza Outbreak in Hong Kong to enhance the overall preparedness in coping with outbreak situations.

Major activities in relation to influenza illness that have been put in place included, amongst others, the local and global surveillance network; investigation and control measures; laboratory support; infection control measures; anti-viral stockpile; implementation of vaccination programme for people at high risk; and port health measures.

"We will keep the contingency arrangements under refinement, drawing on the valuable experience attained at this Health Ministerial Meeting," he added.

Ministers and senior officials from 10 ASEAN countries, plus China, Japan and the Republic of Korea, World Health Organization (WHO), Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) and Office International des Epizooties (OIE) attended today's meeting to discuss the threat from avian influenza and recommend modalities for collaboration among countries in the prevention and control of the disease.

The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region team attended the meeting as members of the Chinese delegation, which is led by Vice-Minister of Health, Professor Wang Longde.

Ends/Friday, November 26, 2004

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