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In response to media enquiries on a media report on Hong Kong's stockpile of antiviral drugs for avian influenza, a spokesman for the Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health (DH) today (September 28) made the following statement:
The Government has been proactively implementing measures outlined in the Preparedness Plan for Influenza Pandemic released in early 2005 to prepare Hong Kong for such situation should it arise.
According to the plan, Hong Kong in early 2005 activated the Alert Response Level of the three-tier response system which comprises the Alert, Serious and Emergency levels and relevant measures have been in place.
On antiviral stockpiling strategies, the CHP of DH follows the recommendations of the Scientific Committee on Emerging and Zoonotic Diseases (SCEZD). The stockpiling of antiviral drugs including both oseltamivir (Tamiflu) and zanamivir (Relenza) are in good progress.
DH will maintain a target level of about 20 million doses of antiviral drug, including both oseltamivir (Tamiflu) and zanamivir (Relenza), with the latter constituting around 10% of the stockpile. The current stockpile level is around 3 million doses and DH has arranged with the pharmaceutical companies to deliver the rest to come in batches by 2007. It is expected that an additional 4 million doses will be available in early 2006.
In response to the reported Indonesia avian influenza in humans, DH continues with the enhanced port health measures which include:
(a) distributing health information leaflets at airline counters for passengers going to Indonesia;
(b) broadcasting health messages on board for all in-bound flights from Indonesia;
(c) temperature screening for in-bound travelers at the Airport, asking febrile travellers arriving from Indonesia about poultry and sick person contact;
(d) informing potential travellers via Travel Health Service Website the progress of the avian influenza in Indonesia; and
(e) alerting travel industry about Indonesia avian flu situation and providing relevant health advice.
DH has been working closely with the Hospital Authority on infection control measures, including formulation of infection control guidelines and training for healthcare workers and carers as well as provision of infection control facilities.
At the community level, DH has conveyed messages of pandemic influenza prevention via different channels, such as TV, radio, internet, outreach programmes, seminars and publicity materials. More than 10 forums were organised by August, 2005, for different target groups including the government departments, general public, healthcare professionals, non-governmental organisations, Chinese Medicine Practitioners, social workers and community leaders, with the aim to raise community awareness and gear up their efforts in preparedness. Health education materials are uploaded to DH/CHP websites.
The DH will continue to adopt an intersectoral and multidisciplinary approach to gear up community efforts, through responsive risk communication, to prepare for the influenza pandemic.
Ends/Wednesday, September 28, 2005
Issued at HKT 19:07
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