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The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health will conduct an exercise tomorrow (September 27) to review Hong Kong's preparedness in case of human cases of avian flu.
The Health, Welfare and Food Bureau, Department of Health, Hospital Authority and Fire Services Department will participate in the one-day exercise, codenamed Cypress.
Over 100 players will take part in the exercise.
A CHP spokesman said that the exercise would focus on frontline issues, such as the handling of patients in public hospitals and contact tracing by CHP's Surveillance and Epidemiology Branch, in the event of human cases of avian influenza.
He added that the exercise would provide an opportunity for the parties concerned to put into practice their respective preparedness plans for combating communicable diseases.
"We hope that the procedures laid down in these preparedness plans will be reviewed during the exercise.
"Shortcomings identified could be fine-tuned to better prepare Hong Kong to deal with the disease," the spokesman said.
Ends/Tuesday, September 26, 2006
Issued at HKT 16:00
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