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LCQ22: Prevention and treatment of monkeypox
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     Following is a question by the Hon Yang Wing-kit and a written reply by the Secretary for Food and Health, Professor Sophia Chan, in the Legislative Council today (June 8):
 
Question:

     It has been reported that in recent months, confirmed cases of monkeypox have been found one after another in a number of countries, whilst the World Health Organization expects that such cases will continue to increase. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
 
(1) whether the Department of Health has formulated any monkeypox-related diagnostic guidelines, isolation arrangements and notification mechanisms; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that;
 
(2) whether it will strengthen its monitoring of inbound travellers (especially those from high-risk places) by, for instances, requiring them to declare whether they have monkeypox symptoms and provide their travel history on their health declaration forms, and to proactively notify airline staff and quarantine officers at boundary control points if they have monkeypox symptoms when entering Hong Kong; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that; of the measures in place to make arrangements for the hospitalisation of inbound travellers with monkeypox symptoms;
 
(3) as it is learnt that there is currently no registered specific vaccine or antiviral pharmaceutical product for monkeypox available in Hong Kong, of the plans in place to treat monkeypox patients in Hong Kong;
 
(4) given that the data acquired by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in the United States show that smallpox vaccines are up to 85 per cent effective in preventing monkeypox, whether the Government will purchase smallpox vaccines for the purpose of forestalling an outbreak of monkeypox epidemic; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that; and
 
(5) as it has been reported that BGI has developed monkeypox virus nucleic acid detection kits which can yield results in 40 minutes, whether the Government has plans to purchase such detection kits, with a view to identifying monkeypox infection cases by means of rapid testing at an early stage; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that?

Reply:
 
President,
 
     In consultation with the Department of Health (DH) and the Hospital Authority (HA), the reply to the various parts of the question raised by the Hon Yang Wing-kit is as follows:

(1) The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the DH has noticed recent report of human monkeypox cases in a number of non-endemic countries, which is on an increasing trend, as well as related recommendations of the World Health Organization. The CHP has set up a thematic webpage on monkeypox (www.chp.gov.hk/en/features/105683.html) to release the relevant health information and preventive measures for the public and high risk groups, and update the latest situation of monkeypox in other places on the website.
 
     The CHP has formulated reporting criteria for suspected case of monkeypox and enhanced surveillance, and issued letters to all doctors and private hospitals in Hong Kong on May 23 this year to request notification of suspected cases so as to facilitate the epidemiological investigation and isolation in a timely manner. Separately, the CHP also further communicated with the HA on notification matters, as well as the establishment of online notification mechanisms. 
 
     In order to strengthen the response to monkeypox and keep hazards at bay, the Government will include monkeypox as a statutory notifiable infectious disease and is formulating a "Preparedness and Response Plan" for monkeypox. In case monkeypox emerges or even causes an outbreak in Hong Kong, the response plan can be activated promptly. The DH is preparing to purchase relevant vaccines. Although no confirmed monkeypox human infection cases have been recorded in Hong Kong so far, the CHP will continue to closely monitor the monkeypox infection cases in other places and the local situation.

(2) In response to the COVID-19 epidemic, Hong Kong has all along been adopting stringent quarantine measures to guard against the importation of the cases. All inbound travellers at Hong Kong International Airport must undergo temperature checks and perform health declaration. Febrile travellers will be compulsorily sent to public hospitals for isolation. If the patient develops monkeypox-related symptoms, public hospitals will follow up as necessary and report to the CHP.

(3) and (4) Currently, supportive treatment is the mainstay of treatment for monkeypox, including ensuring adequate water and nutrition of the patient, and treating of any secondary bacterial infection. Most patients recover after receiving supportive treatment. If the patient's condition continue to deteriorate even after receiving supportive treatment, which is not common, antiviral drugs could be used. Among the antiviral drugs effective against monkeypox, cidofovir has been registered in Hong Kong and has been clinically deployed to treat other viral infections. On the other hand, there is no specific vaccine for monkeypox registered as pharmaceutical product in Hong Kong. The DH notes that there is a smallpox vaccine approved by drug regulatory authority in other places for use in the prevention of monkeypox and is actively liaising with the respective drug manufacturer to enquire on the supply situation of the vaccine.
 
     The experts of the HA will continue to closely monitor the evolving situation of various infectious diseases, the latest development in clinical treatment and scientific evidence, and updated data from drug regulatory authorities as well as pharmaceutical companies around the world. The HA will also continue to closely communicate with the drug manufacturers concerned with a view to timely purchasing and stockpiling suitable vaccines and medicines, as well as formulating recommendations on clinical treatment. In addition, the HA experts will continue to ensure access by patients to new drugs of proven safety and efficacy through evaluation under the established mechanism.

(5) The Public Health Laboratory Services Branch of the CHP has the capacity of detecting monkeypox virus from suspected cases. The DH will also evaluate the applications of different monkeypox virus detection kits in the market where appropriate.
 
Ends/Wednesday, June 8, 2022
Issued at HKT 15:37
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