*********************************************************
The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health will conduct an inter-departmental exercise tomorrow (September 21) to test the Government's preparedness for an avian influenza outbreak involving human cases in Hong Kong.
The one-day exercise, codenamed Chestnut, will focus on frontline response as well as inter-departmental communication and co-ordination.
Ground movement capacity to be tested will include field investigations, management of patients, admission and treatment procedures at the newly commissioned Infectious Disease Centre and the Major Incident Control Centre in Princess Margaret Hospital, isolation and transfer of close contacts, activation of a quarantine centre and other logistic supports in the event of human case of avian influenza.
About 250 participants from 12 government bureaus, departments and organisations and a non-government organisations will take part in the exercise.
Representatives from the Mainland Ministry of Health as well as health authorities of Guangdong and Macau will attend as observers.
A CHP spokesman said 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 as well as the communication and co-ordination among various parties would be tested and reviewed during the exercise."
"Experience gained could help further gear up Hong Kong's readiness in dealing with avian influenza," the spokesman said.
Ends/Thursday, September 20, 2007
Issued at HKT 18:07
NNNN
