Press Releases
SFH on avian influenza
Following is the transcript of remarks (English portion) made by the
Secretary for Food and Health, Dr York Chow, on a patient case of Influenza
A (H5) infection, at a stand-up media session at the West Wing lobby of
Central Government Offices today (November 18):
Reporter: Is there a heightened risk for Mainland poultry and how will the
Government step up its monitoring?
Secretary for Food and Health: At the moment we cannot say that there is an
increase in risk of the poultry that is imported into Hong Kong because as
far as our contact with the Guangdong Entry-Exit Inspection and Quarantine
Bureau (GDCIQ) is concerned, there is no report of abnormality in the farms
that supply chickens to Hong Kong. But we have agreed to heighten our
vigilance in terms of testing of those chickens. We will be increasing the
amount of testing to about 25 percent regarding the PCR (polymerase chain
reaction) swabs of all the chickens that cross our border everyday and also
testing of the antibodies within those chickens. At the same time, we have
also raised the alert on local farms. In the next few days, our Agriculture,
Fisheries and Conservation Department colleagues will be going around those
thirty farms in Hong Kong to check on the health status and obtain samples
for testing.
Reporter: Can you tell us what was covered in the inter-departmental
meeting?
Secretary for Food and Health: This morning we held an inter-departmental
steering committee meeting. The participating departments included the
Department of Health, the Hospital Authority, the Agriculture, Fisheries and
Conservation Department, the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department, the
Tourism Commission, the Education Bureau, the Social Welfare Department, the
Home Affairs Department, and the Information Services Department. All these
departments participated in the meeting and shared the information we have
given them, and each one of them will look at the areas that they might need
to heighten the vigilance and also the precautions. In general, we think the
risk of avian influenza in Hong Kong is not that significantly higher than
before. But since there is one case, we have to be very careful as it might
actually point out its source of infection, which might give rise to another
case. Whether this "another case" will be in Hong Kong or outside Hong Kong,
we still cannot actually predict. But I think we have to take all
precautions so that in case if it is a risk in Hong Kong, we can find out as
early as possible.
Reporter: Was this particular patient too late in seeking medical attention
or was it too late that the diagnosis came?
Secretary for Food and Health: As I said it is very difficult to judge at
this moment because at the time when the patient presented to the Accident
and Emergency Department of Tuen Mun Hospital, her condition did not warrant
being admitted. Whether some sort of test should have been done at that
stage, I don't think I can comment at this stage. But we will review the
history of the medical care there. But what I have said earlier on is, since
we understand that there is a risk of avian influenza in this region, we
demand and also request the Hospital Authority to step up its vigilance.
Whenever there is a patient who has a high fever and any symptoms or signs
of pneumonia, or x-ray evidence of pneumonia, they should do the PCR test as
early as possible to rule out any serious avian influenza in those cases. So
that will be the practice from now.
(Please also refer to the
Chinese portion of the transcript)
Ends/Thursday, November 18, 2010
Issued at HKT 15:07
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