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The Secretary for Health, Welfare and Food, Dr York Chow, today (November 16) met with the Board of Scientific Advisers of the Centre for Health Protection (CHP) and exchanged views with the experts on the latest developments and risk assessment of avian influenza in the region.
At the meeting, the experts pointed out although highly pathogenic avian flu virus was found in poultry and birds in the Mainland and other areas in the past two months, Hong Kong had remained avian flu free since early 2004.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) had stated human-to-human transmission was still very limited but advised nations around the world to get fully prepared in taking precautionary and control measures, as well as developing contingency plans.
Noting that there had not been a genetic re-assortment of the avian flu and human flu viruses according to the latest studies on infectious diseases, Dr Chow said the authority would stay vigilant at all times by monitoring any outbreaks among poultry and human infections to prevent the virus from jumping the barrier to spread among humans.
"We need to remain vigilant but we have to respond flexibly to the latest developments of the situation. Although we have done a lot of work in implementing precautionary measures among local live poultry, the plan of a regional poultry slaughterhouse will take a long time to materialize while the public will still have a lot of direct contacts with live poultry at the markets. Hence, our precautionary measures might not be able to cope with the challenges we are now facing," he said.
"Besides, we could not sit back and do nothing while seeing to that bird flu cases continue to emerge in our neighbouring areas. So, we are currently assessing the risk level posed by our live poultry population before the completion of the regional slaughterhouse."
On human infection, Dr Chow said the authority was most concerned if the avian flu would trigger a flu pandemic. Although the WHO had advised that there was no flu pandemic anywhere in the world at this stage, the authority would guard against such a possibility by adopting the strategy - early preparation, detection, diagnosis, control and treatment.
"At present, our response and preparation are largely effective in countering the threat of avian flu. Earlier, WHO Regional Director of the Western Pacific Regional Office, Dr Shigeru Omi, has pointed out Hong Kong has been adequately prepared to face the challenges of avian flu," he said.
Hong Kong's preparedness plan include adopting measures to reduce the risk of birds and poultry posed to humans, putting in place preventive and control measures by the health care sector; stepping up public education; strengthening the surveillance network; fostering closer cooperation and collaboration with the Mainland and international health authorities; stockpiling of antiviral, etc.
"Related departments and agencies will also conduct drills to test the sufficiency of their contingency plans and to see whether there are still gaps in the communication mechanism. We will continue to strengthen the preparedness of our health care professionals in both the public and private sectors, as well as fortify our legislative framework against avian flu. We will also reactivate temperature checks at land and sea border points as and when required," Dr Chow added.
The Board of Scientific Advisers comprises medical experts including chairmen of the scientific committees of the CHP. The controller of CHP meets with the Board of Scientific Advisers on a regular basis. Through active participation of experts who collectively provide a broadened perspective to disease prevention and control, the board is best placed to formulate comprehensive and effective strategies that reinforce the local health protection system.
Ends/Wednesday, November 16, 2005
Issued at HKT 22:43
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