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The Government announced the activation of the Alert Response Level tonight (January 6) in accordance with the draft Preparedness Plan for Influenza Outbreaks following reports of avian influenza cases in Vietnam.

According to the three-level response plan, the Secretary for Health, Welfare and Food, Dr York Chow, would activate the Alert Response Level upon the advice of the Director of Health when human cases of avian influenza were confirmed outside Hong Kong.

"All preventive measures under the Alert Response Level had in fact been put in place since a suspected case of avian influenza involving a 16-year-old girl was reported in Vietnam last week," a government spokesman said.

"In addition to the ongoing health screening measures including temperature screening at the airport, health messages are broadcasted at all in-bound flights from Vietnam and the distribution of health information leaflets to passengers leaving for the country."

Letters were also sent to all doctors in Hong Kong and hospitals are alerted about the avian influenza cases in Vietnam. All parties are required to report suspected cases to the Department of Health (DH) for follow up.

The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of DH would continue to step up health advice to the public.

The CHP has been also liaising with the World Health Organization and Vietnam to obtain information on the latest developments of the cases.

The Hospital Authority would remind its staff to continue with its existing infection control measures and stay vigilant to symptomatic patients returning from Thailand and Vietnam. The authority has planned to activate its Yellow Alert tomorrow (January 7) by noon and appropriate infection control measures would be implemented accordingly.

"Notwithstanding the draft preparedness plan is still being fine-tuned, we consider it prudent to activate the alert level in view of the latest reports of the two boys who died of suspected avian influenza in Vietnam.

"The activation of the alert level will certainly arouse public awareness of the need to be vigilant and observe good personal and environmental hygiene in Hong Kong, as well as when they travel overseas," the spokesman said.

The spokesman reiterated that travellers going to areas where avian influenza was found should not make any contact with chickens or visit to farms.

Ends/Thursday, January 6, 2005

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