Press Releases
SFH on influenza
Following is a transcript of remarks made by the Secretary for Food and Health,
Dr York Chow, at a stand-up media session at the Legislative Council Building
today (March 13):
Reporter: Would you ask the schools to extend the holiday for an extra week
after the Easter break until you ascertain exactly what is going on? Have you
informed the World Health Organisation (WHO) or have they asked you about what
is going on?
Secretary for Food and Health: We have decided that the schools should be closed
for two weeks, based on the scientific recommendation that the incubation period
for influenza is usually from a few days to about seven days. With a stretch of
two incubation periods, the school environment should be reasonably free from
the virus. If all healthy children go back to school, the chance of cross
spreading would be minimised. At this moment, since we do not have any evidence
that there is significant viral change in terms of the virulence and genetic
make-up of the virus. We will not inform the WHO simply because of our decision.
I am sure every country would ask around whether that decision is based on
certain scientific facts and of course we need to respond to them. At the
moment, we are working very hard on the few cases of mortality to see whether
there are any significant changes or findings. Professor Yuen (Kwok-yung) and
his expert committee would meet today to look at the work needed to be done. We
expect that some findings may be available in the coming two or three weeks. I
hope that if anything comes out, we will inform the public as early as possible.
Reporter: (on school closure)
Secretary for Food and Health: Our main concern is the infection of young
children. The percentage of young children getting influenza in this coming
season obviously seems higher than that of the adult group. It is not yet well
substantiated that the situation is the mortality that we encounter, but we
cannot wait until the figures getting bigger before we have any decision. We
have to make certain assumption that if there are now two mortality cases
related to influenza, even before the peak comes up, then we need to do
something to minimise increase of numbers in the weeks to come. What we have
decided will have certain effect in minimising the mortality and morbidity of
influenza. It is a precautionary measure as I have mentioned. It is not
something entirely based on public health data. I think the public will
appreciate what we are doing. It may be a little bit drastic, but is reassuring
to the community.
Reporter: Would you encourage people to buy Tamiflu?
Secretary for Food and Health: We have plenty of Tamiflu, but we do not
encourage people to buy Tamiflu. We also do not recommend that Tamiflu be used
on any ordinary flu that is without any complications. This is a very simple
instruction given by the medical profession. Tamiflu should only be given to
patients who have complications and any additional chronic illnesses which may
increase their morbidity and their risk.
Reporter: (on Tamiflu and vaccination)
Secretary for Food and Health: In our experience, Hong Kong has always been
adopting a cautious approach to the use of Tamiflu. We do not use Tamiflu in
general practice, and that is why we still do not have any significant
percentage of resistance to the virus in Hong Kong. Those patients admitted to
the hospitals with complications are always treated with Tamiflu. At the moment,
we recommend vaccination for the at-risk groups of the population, including
young children below the age of two, but it is important to note that the
vaccination is only effective after two or three weeks after vaccination. For
this particular season, I think the vaccination may not have a very strong
effect if you have vaccination now. The Government will consider whether the
proposed group for vaccination should be changed in the next season or next
winter. We will be looking at that.
(Please also refer to the
Chinese portion of the transcript)
Ends/Thursday, March 13, 2008
Issued at HKT 21:12
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