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The Government is on full alert to the threat of avian influenza and has put in place a comprehensive preventive and surveillance programme in Hong Kong to guard against the highly pathogenic infectious disease.
A spokesman for the Department of Healthˇ¦s Centre for Health Protection (CHP) today (December 3) said Hong Kong must maintain vigilance in view of the recently reported case of human infection of avian influenza in Jiangsu and the ongoing outbreaks in Asia. He called for efforts from all sectors of society in guarding against the threat.
ˇ§The Government will continue to closely monitor the situation and update our preparedness plan if necessary,ˇ¨ he added.
According to the World Health Organisationˇ¦s report on November 12, 2007, a total of 335 confirmed cases of human infection of the H5N1 influenza virus have occurred in 12 countries since November 2003. With the addition of the case in Jiangsu, there are a total of 336 cases.
Following the activation of the Alert Response Level of the Government's Influenza Pandemic Preparedness Plan in January 2005, a series of preventive measures has been put in place in the disease surveillance system and poultry control measures at farms, markets and ports.
The Government will continue to adopt an intersectoral and multidisciplinary approach to bolster community efforts in pandemic influenza preparedness through responsive risk communication.
The Department of Health (DH) has alerted the aviation and tourism industries regarding the situation. Relevant airlines have been requested to distribute health information leaflets to outbound travellers going to Jiangsu. Health announcements will be made on board aircraft coming from Jiangsu. DH has continued to maintain temperature screening for in-bound travellers at all immigration control points. Travellers who are symptomatic and have a history of possible exposure to the avian flu virus will be referred to hospitals for follow up.
DH and the Hospital Authority have been working closely on infection control measures, including the formulation of guidelines and training of healthcare workers and carers.
At the community level, the government has widely publicised messages of avian flu and influenza pandemic prevention via different channels, such as TV, radio, internet, outreach programmes, seminars and publicity materials.
The Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department has continued surveillance and monitoring of local chicken farms. The department has reminded all livestock farmers to immediately report the presence of sick and dead birds for collection and laboratory examination and to adhere strictly to enforcing farm biosecurity measures. In addition, the ban on backyard poultry keeping has been in operation since February 13, 2006, in order to further reduce the risk of an avian influenza outbreak in Hong Kong.
The Food and Environmental Hygiene Department has been monitoring imported live poultry for H5 avian influenza, including the efficacy of vaccination. Currently, there is no importation of live, chilled or frozen poultry or poultry eggs from Jiangsu.
The spokesman urged members of the public to strictly observe personal and environmental hygiene and to adopt the following preventive measures:
* Stay away from dead birds, avoid direct contact with poultry and birds or their droppings; if contact is made, wash hands thoroughly with soap and water;
* Do not to feed or release wild birds, and surrender pet birds to the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department's animal management centres for disposal if they are no longer wanted as pets;
* Cook poultry and eggs thoroughly before eating;
* Maintain good manners when coughing to prevent transmission of the virus through droplets;
* Cover nose and mouth while sneezing or coughing; dispose of soiled tissue paper properly; wash hands properly when they are contaminated by respiratory secretions; and put on a surgical mask when there are symptoms of respiratory infection or when taking care of patients with fever;
* Avoid crowded places and contact with sick people who have fever;
* Those who have fever and influenza-like illnesses during a trip or after returning to Hong Kong should consult doctors promptly and tell the doctor their travel history.
More information on preventive measures against avian influenza is available on the CHP website, www.chp.gov.hk.
Ends/Monday, December 3, 2007
Issued at HKT 19:46
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