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Following is the transcript of remarks made by the Secretary for Food and Health, Dr Ko Wing-man, when meeting the media at the lobby of West Wing, Central Government Offices, today (June 12):
Secretary for Food and Health: Given that no new case of (Avian Influenza A) H7N9 has been detected in Hong Kong in the past two months and the risk of the spread of the disease in the region has reduced, we have decided to lower the influenza response level under the Framework of Government's Preparedness Plan for Influenza Pandemic from "Serious" to "Alert".
The Government, however, will continue to keep a close watch on the situation and maintain tight contact with the World Health Organization with a view to updating our overall outbreak management plan whenever appropriate.
Based on the latest risk assessment, the Hospital Authority and the Department of Health have also adjusted their clinical and infection control measures including the duration of quarantine period, the introduction of more ECMO (extracorporeal membrane oxygenation) machines in public hospitals and the improvement of facilities in the quarantine camp.
As for the MERS, or Middle East Respiratory Syndrome, the Centre for Health Protection has formulated the Preparedness Plan for MERS to strengthen our response capacity for the disease.
Regarding the resumption of live poultry imports from the Mainland, we have all along been maintaining a very close dialogue with our Mainland counterparts with a view to working out the necessary arrangements. We will make public announcement when the date of resumption is fixed.
Reporter: Do you expect the summer heat to facilitate the spread of the MERS?
Secretary for Food and Health: Up to this particular moment, I am not aware of any research or study pointing to the fact that the summer heat might aggravate the situation in terms of MERS transmission.
(Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the transcript.)
Ends/Thursday, June 12, 2014
Issued at HKT 19:19
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