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Following is a question by the Hon Andrew Cheng and a reply by the Secretary for Health, Welfare and Food, Dr York Chow, in the Legislative Council today (November 2):
Question :
A few dozen confirmed or suspected cases of human infection of avian influenza have been detected throughout the Southeast Asian region since the end of last year. The World Health Organization has predicted that the pandemic will spread rapidly in the near future, leading to a possible death toll of tens of millions. Regarding the prevention of a local outbreak of human infection of avian influenza, will the Government inform this Council:
(a) whether the authorities have adopted special immigration control measures to prevent the import of avian influenza through imported labourers from infected areas, and the details of the infectious disease notification mechanisms established between the Hong Kong authorities and the governments of the neighbouring regions (especially the infected areas);
(b) whether the anti-influenza drug "Tamiflu" in oral dosage form currently stockpiled by the authorities can effectively treat patients infected with avian influenza and relieve their symptoms, and of the efficacy and experience of using the drug in the infected areas; and
(c) whether free influenza vaccination will be given to all elderly people; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that?
Reply :
Madam President,
H5N1 is primarily an infectious disease among poultry and birds. Although there have been sporadic cases of human infection in Southeast Asia and other places since early 2004, there is as yet no evidence showing that the virus is capable of efficient human-to-human transmission. No pandemic has occurred.
(a) Health advice is provided to all travellers departing for or arriving at Hong Kong from countries which are affected by avian influenza including Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand, Indonesia, etc by flight.
Agreement has been reached with airlines operating in-bound flights from the mentioned countries and others affected by avian influenza to make in-flight health advice announcement to passengers. The announcement provides health information relating to avian flu and advises passengers who feel sick to seek medical consultation. Passengers arriving Hong Kong through the Hong Kong International Airport are also required to undergo temperature check. Those who are found to have a temperature are referred to the medical posts for more detailed check-up, and if necessary, admitted to hospital for necessary treatment.
As for passengers taking outbound flight to these countries, they are provided with health education leaflets on board the flight or at the airline counters in the Hong Kong International Airport. These leaflets provide passengers with useful health advice on protection against avian influenza.
A leaflet entitled "What you should know about Avian Influenza" in six ethnic languages including Indonesian and Thai is produced. The leaflet is distributed to target groups through District Offices, Consulate-General Offices, the Hong Kong Federation of Employers and relevant NGOs. In September 2005, DH organized an outreach programme in Victoria Park to distribute the avian influenza leaflet to Indonesian workers. DH is at the moment updating the leaflet, and plans to translate it into more ethnic languages and distribute it to target groups before end of this year. DH has also recently contributed feature articles about prevention of avian influenza to local ethnic newspapers in Indonesian, Philippine and Nepalese.
With regard to infectious disease outbreaks in regional countries including Indonesia and Thailand, DH maintains close liaison with the World Health Organisation (WHO), Consular Generals as well as the concerned health authorities. Outbreak information from both official and unofficial sources is compiled and analysed on a daily basis to help DH keep track of the latest outbreak situation in the region. DH has also established a network of contacts with health authorities in regional countries, and actively seeks latest information and clarifications through these contacts if there is an outbreak with considerable public health implications to Hong Kong.
(b) Tamiflu is an approved drug for the prophylaxis and treatment of ordinary human influenza. It also shows antiviral activity against the avian influenza H5N1 virus in laboratory experiments. Hence, the WHO recommends health authorities to stockpile tamiflu as one of the preparedness measures against pandemic influenza and this advice is taken by many developed economies.
The stockpiling of tamiflu as an antiviral drug during influenza pandemic is also recommended by the Scientific Committee on Emerging and Zoonotic Diseases under DH's Centre for Health Protection. Some world-renowned experts in avian influenza are members of the Committee.
A recent article from WHO reveals that there is empirical evidence showing that tamiflu is useful against H5N1. Current clinical evidence reveals that tamiflu resistance in avian influenza H5N1 is minimal. We would however continue to monitor closely the occurrence of drug-resistance.
(c) As far as elderly people are concerned, the Government Influenza Vaccination Programme covers those who the needy and high-risk groups i.e. those living in residential care homes, those who are chronically-ill, etc. The Programme this year is extended to also cover elderly people aged 65 or above who are on Comprehensive Social Security Assistance. The Administration does not consider it appropriate to broaden eligibility for the Programme to include all elderly people of that age group, who can seek vaccination in the private sector.
Ends/Wednesday, November 2, 2005
Issued at HKT 15:00
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