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The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:
A drill code-named ¡§Exercise Juniper¡¨ was conducted in the Kowloon Central Cluster yesterday (December 17) to enhance the alertness and awareness of frontline staff to contingency measures in the management of patients with suspected avian influenza infection. It was the cluster¡¦s regular and scheduled drill to test hospitals' response to an avian influenza outbreak.
The drill was conducted in a scenario where the Serious Response Level had been activated in Hong Kong hospitals. The scenario simulated two patients suspected of avian flu being identified at the Buddhist Hospital's General Out-patient Clinic and Lee Kee Memorial Dispensary and subsequently transferred to Queen Elizabeth Hospital for further treatment.
About 100 staff members of Kowloon Central Cluster participated in the drill including staff of the two general out-patient clinics, the Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, Department of Anaesthesiology & Operating Theatre Services, Administrative and Supporting Services, and Infection Control Team.
The drill was smoothly conducted and all patient services were maintained without interruption. A debriefing had been held after the drill to review the communication flow and the response plan.
Ends/Thursday, December 18, 2008
Issued at HKT 18:08
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