Press Releases
Heighten alertness and preparation to gear up SARS preventive actions: SHWF
The Secretary for Health, Welfare and Food, Dr Yeoh Eng-kiong, today (April 26) called on relevant government departments to heighten their alertness and preparedness in view of the notification of SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome) cases in the Mainland recently.
His call was made at an interdepartmental meeting this morning to review the precautionary measures taken by various government departments in guarding against local re-occurrence of SARS following the activation of the SARS Alert Level last Friday (April 23).
As of today, there was a total of two confirmed and six suspected cases of SARS in the Mainland.
The meeting noted that the Department of Health had already stepped up health measures at the border control points.
Working hand in hand with the Hospital Authority, it had also enhanced its disease surveillance system to monitor pneumonia patients who had history of travel to Beijing and Anhui Province during the 10 days before the onset of symptoms. Meanwhile, the medical community had also been alerted to the incidents and advised to stay vigilant.
On the hospital front, members noted that the Hospital Authority had swiftly convened a meeting to review hospitals' contingency measures which were considered appropriate in response to the latest situation in the Mainland.
Members also noted that guidelines on SARS prevention would be re-circulated to relevant institutions such as elderly homes and travel agencies to remind them to be on guard.
Dr Yeoh said: "In view of the high volume of travel during the coming 'Golden Week holiday', it is important to get ourselves fully prepared for any eventuality so that we can implement the necessary responses quickly if the situation warrants."
Noting the laboratory setting was a likely source of infection for the present cases in the Mainland, DH would revive discussions with the research and service laboratories to ensure that the most rigorous safety measures are adopted with regard to the handling of laboratory specimens and procedures to track down sick staff.
Meanwhile, the meeting noted the Controller of the Centre for Health Protection would convene a meeting with operational agencies concerned to review the contingency measures to be taken in the event of detection of a local case in Hong Kong.
In rounding off the meeting, Dr Yeoh said the inter-departmental meeting would follow the developments in the Mainland closely and meet again to discuss further measures if necessary.
Today's meeting was attended by senior representatives from nine government departments and agencies -- Health, Welfare and Food Bureau, Department of Health, Hospital Authority, Food and Environmental Hygiene Department, Social Welfare Department, Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department, Economic Development and Labour Bureau, Education and Manpower Bureau and Home Affairs Department.
Ends/Monday, April 26, 2004
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