Press Releases

SFH on Health Surveillance Assistants and hand, foot and mouth disease

Following is the transcript of remarks made by the Secretary for Food and Health, Dr Ko Wing-man, after officiating at the Launching Ceremony of 50th Anniversary Oral History Book at Queen Elizabeth Hospital this afternoon (September 10):

Reporter: (On resignation of Health Surveillance Assistants.)

Secretary for Food and Health: The Health Surveillance Assistants (HSAs) (under the Department of Health) working at our border areas are very important. They are helping us regularly to detect pregnant women who do not have the (Confirmation Certificate on Delivery Booking) and are not entitled to deliver their babies in Hong Kong. Now and then, particularly when we are facing a challenge of serious infectious disease, they will also help the Department of Health in monitoring the body temperature of travellers. Their work is important to our public health system.

Reporter: (On whether there is a trend of resignation for the HSAs.)

Secretary for Food and Health: I of course do not hope that there is a trend of these assistants to resign. I would like to reiterate that the nature of their work is rather difficult and we fully understand that. Owing to the nature of their work, some colleagues may need to be deployed from one border control point to another control point and I hope they would understand.

Reporter: (On outbreaks of hand, foot and mouth disease.)

Secretary for Food and Health: The sentinel surveillance programme is a regular monitoring programme conducted by the Centre for Health Protection (CHP). This programme does not only cover hand, foot and mouth disease, but also some other infectious diseases usually occurring in Hong Kong. It has demonstrated the importance of the CHP in monitoring the trend of infectious diseases and providing timely data and health advice to Hong Kong people. Regarding the hand, foot and mouth disease, it usually has two peaks each year. The earlier peak is around May and another one is in September or October. The result of the sentinel surveillance (of hand, foot and mouth disease) so far this year shows that the number of cases is increasing, when compared with the figures of the previous two years. For the reason and the extent (of the increase) as well as the whole year trend, I think we have to wait for the result of further monitoring from the CHP. The most important thing is that Hong Kong people should pay attention to their personal hygiene, in particular students and people who reside in (elderly) residences or institutions.

(Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the transcript.)

Ends/Tuesday, September 10, 2013
Issued at HKT 16:55

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