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The Permanent Secretary for Health, Welfare and Food, Mrs Carrie Yau, convened an interdepartmental meeting this afternoon (October 26) to review Hong Kong's readiness to fight avian influenza amid fears that migratory birds might spread the virus with the approach of winter.
The meeting was attended by representatives from more than 30 government bureaus, departments and agencies (see Annex I).
Noting that the Mainland had recently reported new outbreaks of avian flu and there was growing public concerns about the possibility of an avian influenza pandemic, Mrs Yau urged departments and agencies to stay on guard at all times.
"The recent avian flu outbreak among birds and poultry is a cause for concern. However, there is no evidence to-date confirming that the H5N1 virus is capable of efficient human-to-human transmission.
"So far, the series of preventive measures we adopted on local poultry farms, wholesale and retail markets are largely effective in countering the threat of avian flu," she said.
"Nonetheless, we cannot afford to be complacent, nor can we afford to relax. Only those who prepare well can respond well at time of crisis," she added.
Mrs Yau said the Government's contingency plan in response to outbreaks of avian influenza in poultry in local farms and the retailed markets remained unchanged.
"Last year, we announced our policy decision to cull all chickens in Hong Kong in the event of two confirmed H5N1 cases in local poultry farms and thereafter, to terminate the local live poultry trade on compulsory basis. We also announced our plan to cull all live poultry in Hong Kongˇ¦s retail markets if there are two confirmed H5N1 cases in our retail markets.
"It is important for the community to know that we have not wavered from this position and that we will continue to place public health as our number one priority in the months and years to come," she said.
During the meeting, the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) updated members on the current outbreaks in Europe and Asia and its assessment of the prevailing situation.
Many departments and agencies had developed their own guidelines and put in place contingency or action plans on the prevention and control of infectious diseases (see Annex II).
The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) experts had useful exchange with members on how their preventive measures could be further refined in view of the latest developments.
At this preparation stage, it was important for departments and agencies to identify room for improvement and fine-tune their plans in the light of the ever-changing prevailing situation, Mrs Yau said.
The Health, Welfare and Food Bureau will continue its proactive role in co-ordinating interdepartmental efforts to combat infectious diseases.
"The underlying tenet is a population-based, cross-sectoral approach vital for effective disease prevention," she said.
Some departments and agencies recently enhanced surveillance and stepped up precautionary measures in the wake of this fresh round of outbreaks.
For instance, CHP has extended the scope of the free vaccination programme, which will start from November 7, to include health care workers in elderly homes and institutions for the disabled, and children aged from six months to 23 months and pregnant women who are Comprehensive Social Security Assistance recipients, in addition to other vulnerable groups.
AFCD has increased surveillance and monitoring of local chicken farms, and reminded all livestock farmers to immediately report the presence of sick and dead birds for collection and laboratory examination. It would also adhere strictly to enforcing farm biosecurity measures.
The Leisure and Cultural Services Department has maintained extra vigilance on the presence of bird disease within the collection of 1,500 birds in four major parks. The department has also advised people not to feed birds and wild birds in its venues, and its staff will take prosecution action for non-compliance.
The Food and Environmental Hygiene Department will immediately suspend import of live poultry and/or poultry products from countries/areas affected by avian flu. It has stepped up monitoring of live poultry at import and retail levels. Reminder letters have also been issued to the retail trade on close observation of hygiene requirements and conditions and prompt report of dead/sick poultry. The department also completed a culling drill in September.
The Education and Manpower Bureau has issued a circular memorandum yesterday reminding schools to adopt precautionary measures to prevent the spread of flu in schools.
Hospital Authority has separately briefed the community of its contingency plans. Hospital drills are conducted from time to time to keep up health care workers' alertness and the next one is scheduled for November 8.
When there are human cases of avian flu locally, CHP will enhance its surveillance of novel influenza virus, review surveillance criteria, and activate its information systems to monitor cases and contacts in real time.
Necessary epidemiological investigation will be conducted to determine whether the case is acquired locally or outside Hong Kong. Contact tracing, medical surveillance and quarantine measures will be conducted as appropriate to the situation.
Turning to public education, Mrs Yau said the Government would continue to give health advice to the general public through TV APIs (Announcements in the Public Interest) and other publicity channels.
"Non-pharmaceutical prevention is just as effective in protecting oneself against pandemic flu. The best way is to practise good personal and environmental hygiene as well as adopting a healthy lifestyle.
"Frequent hand-washing is paramount," she added.
Ends/Wednesday, October 26, 2005
Issued at HKT 18:38
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