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Following is the transcript of remarks made by the Secretary for Food and Health, Dr Ko Wing-man, after attending a radio programme this morning (April 6):
Reporter: Has the Government done an internal assessment on when the outbreak might affect Hong Kong?
Secretary for Food and Health: We have conducted an internal risk assessment. I had an urgent meeting with the Department of Health, the Centre for Health Protection, the Hospital Authority, the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department as well as the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department yesterday morning, and our assessment is that the risk of human-to-human transmission is still low. Most of the infected patients have a history of contact with poultry and therefore our prevention strategy will be focus firstly on the control of poultry. That is why we have arranged a meeting with the Mainland authorities with a view to introducing H7 (avian influenza) rapid test on poultry imported from the Mainland as well as those within Hong Kong. Another strategy is to strengthen the control at the immigration check points and therefore we will be sending additional staff to reinforce the body temperature check for incoming passengers there.
Reporter: (On the capacity of the Hospital Authority in handling the outbreak)
Secretary for Food and Health: After the outbreak of SARS in 2003, the public hospitals have been gradually building up their capacity for isolation facilities. Up to this moment, there are a total of 1,400 isolation beds in the Hospital Authority. This is in line with our strategy to identify and isolate suspected cases early and carry out rapid testing as soon as possible.
(Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the transcript.)
Ends/Saturday, April 6, 2013
Issued at HKT 12:45
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