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The Secretary for Food and Health, Dr York Chow, today (March 11) convened a meeting with relevant bureaus and departments, including the Department of Health (DH), the Hospital Authority (HA) and the Education Bureau (EDB), to discuss the latest situation of seasonal influenza in Hong Kong and to step up preventive and control measures.
In the meeting, members discussed the possible developments of the current seasonal influenza peak. They also considered and put forward a number of possible contingency measures to enhance the prevention and control of influenza.
Dr Chow has decided to set up an expert group under the relevant Scientific Committee of the Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of DH to thoroughly investigate the three recent fatal cases involving children amid the recent seasonal influenza peak. The expert group is chaired by Professor Yuen Kwok-yung. Experts of microbiology, clinical medicine, forensic medicine, pathology and toxicology will be invited to join the study where necessary.
Regarding the recent case of a seven-year-old boy who died today (March 11) after admission to Tuen Mun Hospital with respiratory and neurological symptoms, DH has conducted an epidemiological study on the primary school where the boy had studied.
Taking into account the severity of the case, the occurrence of suspected influenza cases in the boy's school, and the need to facilitate further investigation and disinfection work, the Government has required the school to advance its Easter holidays to March 12 until March 25. The EDB and CHP have sent staff to meet with the schoolˇ¦s management to learn more about the latest situation of influenza-like illness among the students, discuss the arrangements of advancing the Easter holidays and advise on measures to prevent and control the spread of influenza in the school. DH and EDB would maintain close liaison during the school leave period and keep in view the latest situation to decide whether the school can resume class as scheduled. The school campus will remain open during the leave period. Students, if need be, could go to school as usual. The school will arrange teachers to take care of students who go to school. The school will make subsequent arrangements to defer its summer holidays.
The CHP and EDB will continue to closely monitor the influenza situation in all schools and adopt appropriate measures according to the actual situation. EDB has issued circulars to schools on guidelines and advice to prevent and control influenza. EDB and DH will hold four briefing sessions for schools from tomorrow to Friday (March 14) to provide more detailed information concerning influenza to teachers, students and parents. CHP will continue the enhanced surveillance over influenza outbreaks in schools and introduce further measures in light of latest developments, including whether to suspend classes, to prevent the spread of influenza.
On public hospitals, the headquarters of HA and different clusters will continue to closely monitor the daily hospital occupancy rate, attendances and admissions at Accident and Emergency Departments (AED) to facilitate the deployment of manpower to ensure the provision of necessary services in public hospitals. Contingency measures include recruiting and deploying additional healthcare staff to support the operations of AED and reduce elective surgical operations.
"The Government will continue to stay fully alert, closely monitor the peak of seasonal influenza, put in place preventive and control measures in view of further developments and to ensure the effective implementation of such measures to protect public health," Dr Chow said.
Members of the public are urged to build up good body immunity by having proper diet, regular exercise and adequate rest, reducing stress and avoiding smoking. Children, elderly people and those with chronic diseases should consult their doctors for medical advice promptly and take more rest at home if they have influenza-like symptoms.
Ends/Tuesday, March 11, 2008
Issued at HKT 19:13
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