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The Director of Health of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, Dr Margaret Chan, and world influenza expert, Prof Ken Shortridge of the Department of Microbiology of The University of Hong Kong, will jointly be awarded one of the Prince Mahidol Awards 1998 in recognition of their contribution towards the work in eradicating the avian flu.

The Prince Mahidol Award was established in 1992 to honour the late Prince Mahidol of Songkla, the Royal Father of the King of Thailand who modernised the medical care and medical education of Thailand and honoured as the Father of Modern Medicine and Public Health in Thailand.

This international award is bestowed upon individuals or institutions which have made outstanding and exemplary contributions to the advancement of medical, public health and human service in the world.

The Award consists of two categories, one in Medicine and the other in Public Health. It is conferred on an annual basis and selected by a committee of world renowned scientists and public health experts.

In letters offering the Award to Dr Chan and Prof Shortridge, Chairman of the International Award Committee, Prince Mahidol Award Foundation, Dr Natth Bhamarapravati said the award was given in recognition of Dr Chan's contribution towards the public health measures that had successfully curtailed the fowl influenza virus outbreak, and Prof Shortridge's work over many years in studying influenza viruses of animals and humans and the deployment of this information in dealing with the H5N1 virus.

Dr Chan and Prof Shortridge are the first two people from Hong Kong to receive the Award. The Award for 1998 will be conferred by the King of Thailand on January 28, 1999 in Bangkok.

The Award, to be shared by Dr Chan and Prof Shortridge, consists of a Medal, a Certificate and a sum of US$50,000.

In accepting the offer, both Dr Chan and Prof Shortridge said they were very pleased that Hong Kong's hard work in combating the avian flu had gained international recognition. They would like to share the honour with everyone that had been involved in the hard job in the past year.

Dr Chan's share of the cash award will be donated to the Hong Kong College of Community Medicine of the Hong Kong Academy of Medicine for use in the promotion and development of the specialty of community medicine in Hong Kong.

Prof Shortridge will donate his share to the Rotary Club of Queensway in support of its hepatitis B vaccination projects.

End/Wednesday, November 25, 1998

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