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The Inter-Departmental Action Co-ordinating Committee (IACC) today (March 29) reviewed the Government's precautionary measures against avian influenza and related public education efforts.
The Permanent Secretary for Health, Welfare and Food and chairperson of the IACC, Mrs Carrie Yau, said that as Hong Kong was still within the season of avian influenza, the Government had been on full alert to guard against the deadly disease which has posed a health risk to people all over the world.
The IACC has taken stock of the Government's overall preparedness in the light of the latest developments, including the recent human avian influenza cases in Guangzhou and Shanghai.
Referring to the Mai Po Nature Reserve, Mrs Yau said: "As a dead peregrine falcon infected with the H5 virus was found in the proximity to the Mai Po Nature Reserve earlier this month, the reserve would continue to be closed. We will monitor the disease situation in the reserve for 21 days which is the World Organisation for Animal Health's standard. We will review the situation in mid-April."
Mrs Yau added that the Government would step up its efforts in disease surveillance and public education, including launching new Announcements in Public Interest and conducting briefing sessions at the district levels.
"Members of the public should remain vigilant and maintain good personal and environmental hygiene. They all play a key part in the Government's overall preparedness planning and preventive work against avian influenza," she stressed.
Ends/Wednesday, March 29, 2006
Issued at HKT 19:06
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