Press Releases

Inter-departmental efforts to prevent return of SARS

A specially convened inter-departmental meeting today (January 8) agreed to redouble cross-sectoral efforts to minimise the risk of the return of SARS in Hong Kong.

Chaired by Secretary for Health, Welfare and Food Dr Yeoh Eng-kiong, the meeting noted there had been three confirmed SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome) cases since the summer break - one each in Singapore and Taiwan, both originating in a laboratory setting - and an earlier reported case in Guangdong with an unknown source of infection.

Calling for concerted effort from the community to guard against the return of SARS in Hong Kong, Dr Yeoh said: "The recent reoccurrence of confirmed and suspected SARS cases in Guangdong reminds us of the potential threat of SARS to our community.

"There is a need for unabated efforts on all fronts to protect our population from SARS infections.

"The Government, the healthcare sector and the community are doing all necessary work to make sure cases could be picked up as early as possible so that contact tracing could be done to protect the community from possible outbreaks," he said.

The meeting was attended by senior representatives from the Department of Health (DH), Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD), Social Welfare Department (SWD), Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD), Information Services Department (ISD), Education and Manpower Bureau (EMB), Home Affairs Department (HAD) and Tourism Commission as well as the Hospital Authority (HA).

Speaking after the meeting, Dr Yeoh stressed that the HA and the DH had swiftly upscaled their precautionary measures to guard against the resurgence of SARS in Hong Kong following the Ministry of Health and the World Health Organisation's recent decisions to upgrade the suspected SARS case in Guangdong to a laboratory-confirmed case.

"A new surveillance system has been in place since January 6 to monitor patients with pneumonia symptoms and a history of travel to Guangdong province during the 10 days before the onset of symptoms.

"As of yesterday, a total of 39 pneumonia cases have been reported by HA, private hospitals and clinics. None of these cases has tested positive for SARS coronavirus (CoV) thus far," he said.

Dr Yeoh said infection control measures in public hospitals and clinics had been stepped up simultaneously. These included:

* All healthcare workers and visitors to hospitals are now required to wear surgical masks in hospital areas.
* Temperature taking is now mandatory for all patients arriving at accident and emergency departments and outpatient clinics while staff are advised to take their temperature when going to work.
* Healthcare workers attending to patients with fever or respiratory symptoms are now required to put on full protective gear.
* Patients with fever will wait and attend consultations at designated areas at accident and emergency departments and clinics.
* Laboratory surveillance will be extended to test samples from patients with community-acquired pneumonia.

The HA would also make available information on the preventive measures that they have given to private hospitals and clinics for reference.

Recognising that a population-based, cross-sectoral approach would be vital for effective prevention of the disease, the meeting vowed to fight the battle on a broader front, involving government departments/agencies other than DH/HA together with various sectors of the community.

Dr Yeoh said the AFCD would continue with the surveillance of local wildlife for evidence of SARS CoV.

The surveillance was being conducted in the form of a collaborative project with the Department of Microbiology, University of Hong Kong. So far, 10 civet cats, 42 various other ground-dwelling small mammals, 36 bats, 36 monkeys and 31 snakes had been tested with negative results.

"These tests are particularly meaningful in view of the WHO's warning that wild animals could be reservoirs for the SARS CoV. They also represent an invaluable contribution to worldwide research efforts to identify which animals are capable of carrying the virus and transmitting the virus to humans," he said.

"Schools and welfare service agencies have been reminded to step up precautionary measures following confirmation of the SARS case in Guangdong.

"Their adherence to relevant preventive guidelines and contingency plans will be closely monitored by EMB and SWD."

Dr Yeoh said FEHD was pressing ahead with the implementation of the longer-term measures recommended by Team Clean.

"The anti-litter law will continue to be enforced on a no-tolerance basis. Stringent enforcement will likewise be taken against unhygienic practices of food business premises," he said.

In addition, the FEHD would issue advice to all restaurants reminding them that civet cats and some game meats have been banned from import.

On top of their annual anti-rodent exercise, FEHD would also focus its anti-rodent effort this year on cargo-handling areas.

Apart from the health and hygiene work, the HAD would rally the support of local bodies such as Area Committees, Rural Committees, Owners Corporations and Mutual Aid Committees in promoting personal, home and community hygiene at the district level.

The ISD would arrange to step up publicity efforts through various channels including TV/radio announcements in public interest (APIs), posters and leaflets to arouse public awareness of the need to stay vigilant against SARS and the efforts taken by the relevant authorities. In this regard, new publicity materials are being produced to that effect.

The meeting welcomed recent initiatives by the Tourism Commission, the travel trade and related industries to prevent the introduction of SARS to Hong Kong. These included:

* The Travel Industry Council of HK has reminded its member travel agents to heighten vigilance against SARS infections among tourists.

* The HK Association of Registered Tour Coordinators has reminded tourist guides to acquaint themselves with information pamphlets on SARS issued by DH and to alert visitors to the need to comply with public health and cleanliness regulations.

* The hotel industry has stepped up hygiene improvement measures and cleaning frequency in public corridors and communal areas within hotel complexes, reinforced surveillance on health conditions of staff, and reinforced management control on relevant work procedures.

* Around 200 Tourism Development Assistants (TDAs) have been stationed at major border control points to assist visitors in completing health declaration forms, to help screen the completed forms, to guide visitors to the proper spot for temperature screening and to distribute information leaflets on personal hygiene.

Given that Hong Kong is an open economy with ever-increasing cross-border flows of people, Dr Yeoh said all these measures would be instrumental to prevent imported infections and ensure early detection and containment of the disease.

In rounding up the meeting, Dr Yeoh said, "The ongoing investigations by the WHO and overseas health authorities warrant a close watch. It is also necessary to constantly review the adequacy of our precautionary measures in keeping with the latest situations and findings.

"The inter-departmental meeting will follow the developments closely and meet again to discuss further measures if necessary."

Ends/Thursday, January 8, 2004
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