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Public Health Hong Kong has had several high-profile, though unrelated, public health problems over the past year. Most notable was the detection in August last year by Hong Kong's disease surveillance system of a new avian 'flu virus (Influenza A H5N1 Virus) for the first time in humans. The virus killed six people, while another 12 infections were reported. The government acted quickly to contain the outbreak, taking the unprecedented step of ordering the slaughter of some 1.5 million chickens in three days from December 29. The success of the action can be shown by the absence of any new infections after December 28. This prompted world health experts and the World Health Organisation to state that the chicken slaughter probably prevented a global outbreak of the disease. Changes in the global climate, the environment and frequent travel to other countries led to an increase in communicable diseases. A spate of cholera cases occurred in February 1998. The sources were quickly traced. This was followed by a bloom of marine algae, known as 'red tide', in March and April 1998 which swept through Hong Kong waters and killed a large proportion of the sea fish farmed in fish culture zones in Hong Kong. However, the loss accounted for only some 1% of all marine fish consumed annually in Hong Kong. No persons were taken ill as a result of the incidents. While the government continues to step up controls on food health and improve public hygiene, the string of incidents prompted it to launch a major campaign in June to promote the importance of a healthy lifestyle as well as personal and environmental hygiene. A consultation paper released on June 1 proposed that the government assume responsibility for all food safety and environmental hygiene because the current fragmentation of responsibilities between it and the two municipal councils was undesirable and inefficient.
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