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The Government has amended the Prevention and Control of Disease Ordinance (Cap. 599) to include Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) infection as one of the statutory notifiable diseases.
The amendment, which was gazetted and came into effect today (June 10), widened the scope to cover other strains of STEC, including Escherichia coli O104:H4, which caused the recent outbreak in Germany.
"In view of the recent German outbreak and the seriousness of the disease, there is a pressing need to strengthen the surveillance of STEC infection to ensure prompt implementation of effective public health preventive and control measures," a spokesman for the Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health said.
Medical practitioners are reminded to stay alert for cases of STEC infection and are required by law to notify the Director of Health of any suspected cases. The new notification requirement will cover not only the existing notifiable Escherichia coli O157:H7 strain, the most common strain detected in Hong Kong, but also Escherichia coli O104:H4.
Letters have been sent to all medical practitioners and hospitals to inform them about the legislative amendment and reporting criteria.
"The strengthened surveillance of the infection is a prudent measure to facilitate early detection of the disease and implement appropriate public health measures as and when required," the spokesman added.
Forms of notification are available at the Central Notification Office (CENO) online, the Web-based reporting system of the CHP at www.chp.gov.hk/ceno. Doctors may also download the form and report by fax to 2477 2770. Enquiries about reporting can also be made to CENO at 2477 2772.
The CHP will continue to closely monitor the situation of the outbreak in Germany.
Ends/Friday, June 10, 2011
Issued at HKT 12:53
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