HONG KONG, PRC SAR: [3,673 cases, 2 deaths, 41 in hospital: 2 serious, 3 in critical, from April 26 to July 31, 2009]

[Giuseppe]

Re: HONG KONG, PRC SAR: RESPONSE AND TRACKING (by Govt Agencies)

Re: HONG KONG, PRC SAR: RESPONSE AND TRACKING (by Govt Agencies)

Hong Kong: Situation report on human swine influenza (5/13/09)

A spokesman for the Department of Health said in the 24 hours to noon today (May 13), five people fulfilling human swine influenza (Influenza A H1N1) reporting criteria were reported to the Centre for Health Protection (CHP).


The spokesman said:

"They are in stable condition and laboratory results of their specimens are pending," the spokesman said.

So far, a total of 89 cases fulfilling the reporting criteria were received. Eighty-two of them were tested negative and two tested positive.

Up to 4pm today, the CHP's hotline 2125 1111 had received 2,023 calls since it was set up on April 30. A daily update on swine influenza in humans is now available on the CHP website (www.chp.gov.hk).

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[Giuseppe]

Re: HONG KONG, PRC SAR: RESPONSE AND TRACKING (by Govt Agencies)

Re: HONG KONG, PRC SAR: RESPONSE AND TRACKING (by Govt Agencies)

Hong Kong: SFH on human swine flu (with photo)(5/14/2009)

Following is the transcript of remarks (English portion) made by the Secretary for Food and Health, Dr York Chow, after meeting representatives of school councils and principals' associations on Hong Kong's preparedness for human swine flu today (May 14):


Secretary for Food and Health:
We met with school representatives today and had a very good exchange on how we are going to tackle this coming epidemic of the human swine flu. I have assurance from all the schools that they have all the preparation and guidelines that are required. And we have also addressed some of the concerns about some of the arrangements, particularly that we need to announce closure of kindergartens and primary schools. We had a very good exchange, we have got assurances from the headmasters of schools. This is a very constructive meeting. I will also be meeting representatives from different sectors, to prepare everyone in Hong Kong to be ready for fighting this epidemic.

Reporter:
(inaudible)

Secretary for Food and Health:
I think the headmasters worry about a couple of things. First, whether we will announce the closure of schools in the middle of the night. I assured them that, with the current understanding of this epidemic, we probably would have sufficient time to make preparation before making announcement. So it is very unlikely that we will have to resort to that sort of timing. And secondly, whether we are too stringent in classifying primary schools, together with kindergartens. This is done according to the current understanding of the epidemic, from the limited literature review we have, and the reports that we have received that the younger generation, particularly those who are under the age of 15, might have a higher incidence of transmission and infection. So, our consideration is to try to have the primary schools and the kindergartens put into one group, and then the high school into another group. There is also concern whether we have sufficient information given to them. And when we do that, we can assure them that if we do any announcement, particularly with restriction to school activities, then we have to explain well. There is another concern about the summer activities of the schools, particularly those schools that have arranged overseas study groups. I have assured them that if they do that, they have to understand where they are going, and what they are doing when they get there, and whether they have sufficient supervision, and also preparation such as protective gear and antiseptics, and things that they have to carry with them. And in case they get sick, what they should do.I also advised that everyone should have medical insurance before they travel. So these are the things most of the teachers and school principals are concerned with, we have actually responded to most of them. And other concerns, of course, they might raise eventually with the Education Bureau, regarding organising modification of the courses and exams and so on. I believe that Mr Wong has also explained that the bureau will handle it very flexibly so that everybody would be able to be satisfied.

Reporter:
Any particular reason why universities are not going to be closed down?

Secretary for Food and Health:
I think students in the universities are adults. As I have said earlier and we have to go down the route of mitigation and also social distancing, then of course we have to address those questions. But, I think, like adults, if we have to close universities, we have to close many others too. I hope we don't need to go down that route as a first step. We are focusing on young children first because they are more liable to have an infection according to the literature so far and most of the outbreaks that are reported in North America. In Europe, it actually arises from schools. So, I think that this is the more at-risk group that we would want to address first.

Reporter:
(expecting an outbreak)

Secretary for Food and Health:
We always said that we need to be as comprehensive as possible in terms of preparation. But I think it is important that all the stakeholders, particularly the school management, understand the risk and get everything prepared before the things come. Whether it comes or not, I don't know. But we are trying to delay it as far as possible. And eventually when it comes, we have already grasped the information and all the knowledge about this virus, we will be more able to treat patients and to protect them.

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

Re: HONG KONG, PRC SAR: RESPONSE AND TRACKING (by Govt Agencies)

Re: HONG KONG, PRC SAR: RESPONSE AND TRACKING (by Govt Agencies)

Hong Kong: Situation report on human swine influenza (5/14/09)

A spokesman for the Department of Health said in the 24 hours to noon today (May 14), five people fulfilling human swine influenza (Influenza A H1N1) reporting criteria were reported to the Centre for Health Protection (CHP).


"They are in stable condition and laboratory results of their specimens are pending," the spokesman said.

So far, a total of 94 cases fulfilling reporting criteria were received.

Eighty-seven of them tested negative.

Up to 4pm today, the CHP's hotline 2125 1111 had received 2,181 calls since it was set up on April 30.

A daily update on swine influenza in humans is now available on the CHP website (www.chp.gov.hk).
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[Giuseppe]

Re: HONG KONG, PRC SAR: RESPONSE AND TRACKING (by Govt Agencies)

Re: HONG KONG, PRC SAR: RESPONSE AND TRACKING (by Govt Agencies)

Hong Kong: Situation report on human swine influenza (5/15/09)

A spokesman for the Department of Health said in the 24 hours to noon today (May 15), 25 people fulfilling human swine influenza (Influenza A H1N1) reporting criteria were reported to the Centre for Health Protection (CHP).


"Eight of them tested negative for human swine influenza while laboratory results of the remaining 17 are still pending. They are in stable condition," the spokesman said.

So far, a total of 119 cases fulfilling reporting criteria were received.

Among them, 100 tested negative.

Up to 4pm today, the CHP's hotline 2125 1111 had received 2,258 calls since it was set up on April 30.

A daily update on swine influenza in humans is now available on the CHP website (www.chp.gov.hk).
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[Giuseppe]

Re: HONG KONG, PRC SAR: RESPONSE AND TRACKING (by Govt Agencies)

Re: HONG KONG, PRC SAR: RESPONSE AND TRACKING (by Govt Agencies)

Hong Kong: SFH attends World Health Assembly (5/15/09)

The Secretary for Food and Health, Dr York Chow, will fly to Geneva later tonight (May 15) to get updated and first hand information on the human swine influenza pandemic at the World Health Organisation's (WHO) annual assembly.


The assembly will be held on May 18 to discuss pandemic influenza preparedness, including sharing of influenza viruses and access to vaccines.

Dr Chow will exchange the latest information with WHO officials, health ministers and experts on the global human swine influenza (Influenza A H1N1) situation.

Officials of Mexico, the US and Canada will also update WHO on their pandemic situation.

During his stay in Geneva, Dr Chow will have meetings with the Director-General of the WHO, Dr Margaret Chan, to discuss measures to deal with the global prevalence of human swine influenza.

He will also meet with the Minister of Health, Dr Chen Zhu, to learn more about the preventive and control measures on the Mainland. Dr Chow will return to Hong Kong on May 20.
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[Giuseppe]

Re: HONG KONG, PRC SAR: RESPONSE AND TRACKING (by Govt Agencies)

Re: HONG KONG, PRC SAR: RESPONSE AND TRACKING (by Govt Agencies)

Hong Kong: SFH on human swine flu (with photo/video) (5/15/09)

Following is the transcript of remarks (English portion) made by the Secretary for Food and Health, Dr York Chow, today (May 15) after meeting representatives of chambers of commerce and small and medium enterprises on Hong Kong's fight against a possible pandemic:


Secretary for Food and Health:We had a meeting with representatives from various chambers of commerce, particularly responding to some of the concerns regarding how to continue normal activities, commercial activities in Hong Kong and overseas.

We discussed the preparation for people travelling to Hong Kong, and also people going to infectious places.

And we are particularly concerned about a group of Hong Kong delegates going to Las Vegas at the end of this month for a jewellery exhibition.

So we have given them a list of advice of what they need to do, and what they need to be concerned with, this is particularly referring to how to protect themselves with suitable protective gear and antiseptics, how to make sure they have travel insurance, and also medical insurance before they go, and how to handle the exhibition venue so that they can have normal activities with the customers.

Reporter:
While you were having this meeting, there is another Asian country confirmed a new case of human swine flu, in Malaysia, and that person also returned from US. Have you heard anything from the US since you wrote? And what about the Chinese Health Minister?

Secretary for Food and Health:
I think the US government has already responded, and I believe that what they have done has already been announced. I shall be going to Geneva to attend the World Health Organisation assembly, so I hope that I will be able to gather more information on the pandemic regarding the various countries, and how they deal with this flu and hopefully also get more information from scientists who research this virus so that we know how to handle it better.

Reporter:
One follow up question. The delegation is going to the jewellery fair in the US. Would you consider when they come back to Hong Kong, whether they have any symptoms or not, to isolate them for seven days?

Secretary for Food and Health:
I have given the advice to all the trade representatives that the existing policy in Hong Kong is still enforced. So if they have any illness, I advise them not to fly, either from Hong Kong or back to Hong Kong, depending on where they are.It is important that they should be healthy when they fly.

Reporter:
(Advice to the public)

Secretary for Food and Health:
As I have said, we are only at the beginning of this possible pandemic, so we need to stay vigilant all the time.It doesn't mean that we need to be too protective of everything, and not have normal activities. Our citizens and our society must maintain as much as possible normal activities that we used to enjoy. But we have to take special precautions, particularly for the hygiene of ourselves and also our environment. More particularly, we need to look after each other and care for each other. We can only be able to contain and mitigate this epidemic if we are working as a team and as long as we are united.

Reporter:
Any progress report on the second swine flu case? After the incubation period, will he be able to be released?

Secretary for Food and Health:
I think he has passed the incubation period. He is under treatment. So as long as he is well and no longer infectious, then he can be discharged. I do not know the existing situation, but I think he is still in very stable condition.

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

Re: HONG KONG, PRC SAR: RESPONSE AND TRACKING (by Govt Agencies)

Re: HONG KONG, PRC SAR: RESPONSE AND TRACKING (by Govt Agencies)

Hong Kong: Southern District promotes public participation in fight against human swine influenza (with photos) (5/16/09)

Southern District Office, Southern District Council and Southern District Healthy and Safe Association today (May 16) pledged to fight against the human swine influenza at the Aberdeen Square in Aberdeen Centre.


Southern District Officer Mr Alex Wong Ying-fun, Southern District Council (SDC) Chairman Ms Mar Yuet-har, Southern District Healthy and Safe Association Chairman cum Southern District Council Vice-chairman Mr Chu Ching-hong, and a number of district councilors participated in today's ceremony.

The event was kicked off by the performances of kindergarten pupils, followed by a demonstration on the correct way of washing hands.

Other activities included exhibition and games.

A double-decker also went to various parts in Southern District to promote the importance of flu prevention, during which disinfectant packs were distributed to passers-by.

Mr Wong said, "Southern District Office and SDC paid a joint investigation to the hygiene blackspots in the district on the Clean Hong Kong Day last Sunday. After that, we referred the cases to the relevant government departments for follow-up actions."

He stressed that his office would work closely with the SDC to monitor the situation and to take appropriate measures to improve community cleanliness as well as to strengthen publicity in the district.

Ms Mar said SDC convened special meetings to consider the best way to make use of the additional government funding of $500,000 and the council would distribute disinfectant packs in the district.

To minimise the chance for a large-scale outbreak of human swine flu in the community, she urged the public not to lower their guard and to support the cleaning operations in the district.
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[Giuseppe]

Re: HONG KONG, PRC SAR: RESPONSE AND TRACKING (by Govt Agencies)

Re: HONG KONG, PRC SAR: RESPONSE AND TRACKING (by Govt Agencies)

Hong Kong: Situation report on human swine influenza (5/16/09)

A spokesman for the Department of Health said in the 24 hours to 12 noon today (May 16), 16 people were required to undergo human swine influenza (Influenza A H1N1) testing.


"They are in stable condition and laboratory results of their specimens are pending," the spokesman said.

So far, a total of 135 cases reported to CHP for human swine influenza testing were received.

117 of them were tested negative.

Up to 4pm today, the CHP's hotline 2125 1111 has received 2,305 calls since it was set up on April 30.

A daily update on swine influenza in humans is now available on the CHP website (www.chp.gov.hk).
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[Giuseppe]

Re: HONG KONG, PRC SAR: RESPONSE AND TRACKING (by Govt Agencies)

Re: HONG KONG, PRC SAR: RESPONSE AND TRACKING (by Govt Agencies)

Hong Kong: Situation report on human swine influenza (5/17/09)

A spokesman for the Department of Health said in the 24 hours to 12 noon today (May 17), 15 people were required to undergo human swine influenza (Influenza A H1N1) testing.


''12 of them are tested negative to human swine influenza while laboratory results of the other two are still pending, and the remaining one has yielded positive for human swine influenza. They are in stable condition," the spokesman said.

So far, a total of 150 cases reported to CHP for human swine influenza testing were received.

145 of them were tested negative.

Up to 4pm today, the CHP's hotline 2125 1111 has received 2,329 calls since it was set up on April 30.

A daily update on swine influenza in humans is now available on the CHP website (www.chp.gov.hk).
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[Giuseppe]

Re: HONG KONG, PRC SAR: RESPONSE AND TRACKING (by Govt Agencies)

Re: HONG KONG, PRC SAR: RESPONSE AND TRACKING (by Govt Agencies)

Hong Kong: A third imported case of human swine flu in Hong Kong (with video) (5/17/09)

A spokesman for the Department of Health (DH) today (May 17) called on travellers who had arrived in Hong Kong yesterday evening from New York by taking a flight of Cathay Pacific Airlines (flight no. CX 831,codeshare American Airlines (AA6091)), to call the DH hotline 2125 1111 to facilitate surveillance of their health conditions by the health authority.


The appeal was made following the confirmation of a case of human swine influenza (Influenza A H1N1) involving a male passenger who had taken the flights concerned.

The spokesman said results of laboratory analysis on respiratory samples taken from the patient yielded positive for human swine influenza today.

"The patient is a 23-year-old student, a Guangdong resident studying in the United States. He developed cough and runny nose on May 14 when he was in the United States. He developed fever while on the flight from New York to Hong Kong.

The patient had put on a mask during the journey to Hong Kong,'' the spokesman said.

The man was intercepted by Port Health officers at the airport as he had declared to have cough and failed to pass the body temperature screening.

He was taken to Princess Margaret Hospital by ambulance and was admitted to an isolation ward.

He is now in stable condition.

"The patient sat at row 60 on flight CX831. The DH is now tracing the crew members of the flight who had served the cabin concerned and passengers who sat on rows 57-63 of the flight.

"Those who are located in Hong Kong will be taken to MacLehose Holiday Camp for quarantine," the spokesman said.
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[Giuseppe]

Re: HONG KONG, PRC SAR: RESPONSE AND TRACKING (by Govt Agencies)

Re: HONG KONG, PRC SAR: RESPONSE AND TRACKING (by Govt Agencies)

Hong Kong: Flight passengers under medical observation (5/17/2009)

The Department of Health (DH) has so far located 22 passengers and a crew member of Cathy Pacific flight no. CX 831 (codeshare American Airlines (AA6091)) who arrived in Hong Kong from New York yesterday (May 16) evening.


The passengers concerned sat at row 57 to 63 of the flight.

A 23-year-old passenger sitting on row 60 of the flight was confirmed to have been infected with human swine influenza (Influenza A H1N1) earlier today (May 17).

All of them have developed no symptoms of influenza.

They are being taken to Lady MacLehose Holiday Camp for quarantine up to May 23.

A DH spokesman urged people who had taken the flight concerned to call the Centre for Health Protection hotline 2125 1111 to facilitate follow up investigation by the department.
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[Giuseppe]

Re: HONG KONG, PRC SAR: RESPONSE AND TRACKING (by Govt Agencies)

Re: HONG KONG, PRC SAR: RESPONSE AND TRACKING (by Govt Agencies)

Hong Kong: SFH meets with US Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services (with photos)(5/18/09)

The Secretary for Food and Health, Dr York Chow, today (May 18) attended World Health Organisation's (WHO) annual assembly and a roundtable meeting on pandemic, as well as a side meeting with the United States (US) on the influenza pandemic preparedness in Geneva, Switzerland.


Joining the Minister of Health, Dr Chen Zhu, as a member of the China delegation, Dr Chow had a meeting with the US Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services, Ms Kathleen Sebelius, to exchange views and update information on measures taken by various parties.

Dr Chow thanked the scientists and experts of the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention regarding their transparency and professional integrity in sharing the discovery of the new virus, thus allowing Hong Kong to develop the PCR test timely to contain our first index case.

He also shared with Secretary Sebelius the measures Hong Kong took in managing exits during and after SARS, such as strong and visible health advice, exit health declaration and thermo screening. He also explained the concern of Hong Kong people in the wake of SARS nightmare. He said that many countries and territories in Southeast Asia might not have the diagnostic facilities and stockpile of Tamiflu.

"Coupling with the high risk of H5 avian flu and dense population in the Asian region, the scenario might be far more severe than that experienced in the US, and the virus might be more prone to genetic reassortment," Dr Chow said.

He also told the US Secretary that travel appeal should be issued and visible signage be put up at US airports to forewarn travellers including particularly overseas students who will be returning in droves to Hong Kong in the coming months.

The US side said they have taken the problem seriously and had put in place aggressive measures including a massive public education campaign and advice for travellers not to travel when they are sick.
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[Giuseppe]

Re: HONG KONG, PRC SAR: RESPONSE AND TRACKING (by Govt Agencies)

Re: HONG KONG, PRC SAR: RESPONSE AND TRACKING (by Govt Agencies)

Hong Kong: Health talk organised for Yuen Long residents (5/18/09)

The Yuen Long District Office organised a public health talk on human swine influenza today (May 18) at Yuen Long Theatre to update the local residents about the latest information of influenza and provide them with health tips.


Representatives from schools and residents' organisations attended. At the talk, medical staff of the Department of Health explained the symptoms and prevention of human swine influenza, and answered questions from the audience.

Disinfectant packs were distributed to the participants after the talk to promote the importance of personal and household hygiene.

Yuen Long District Officer, Mr Yeung Tak-keung, said, "The seminar enhanced public awareness on the prevention of influenza and reminded residents the importance of personal and environmental hygiene, to help lower the risk of community outbreak."

The Yuen Long District Office has recently consulted the District Council on the promotion of community cleanliness.

Members generally supported allocating more resources on cleaning, purchasing cleaning materials for residents, especially minority groups, and launching publicity and education programmes. In support of the Clean Hong Kong Day, Yuen Long District had organised various publicity activities, including disseminating health messages to ethnic minority and elderly residents.

The Yuen Long District Office will continue to cooperate with the District Council, government departments and district organisations to conduct cleaning and publicity work in fighting the pandemic.

Mr Yeung added, "Apart from purchasing hygienic products and distributing leaflets and posters through district organisations and community activities, the Yuen Long District Office will help arrange a one-off cleaning activity in the public areas of buildings without owners' corporation or mutual aid committee to enhance the hygiene condition of the district."
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[Giuseppe]

Re: HONG KONG, PRC SAR: RESPONSE AND TRACKING (by Govt Agencies)

Re: HONG KONG, PRC SAR: RESPONSE AND TRACKING (by Govt Agencies)

Hong Kong: Situation report on human swine influenza (5/18/09)

A spokesman for the Department of Health said in the 24 hours to 12 noon today (May 18), 16 people were required to undergo human swine influenza (Influenza A H1N1) testing.


"They are in stable condition and laboratory results of their specimens are pending," the spokesman said.

So far, a total of 166 cases reported to CHP for human swine influenza testing were received.

147 of them were tested negative.

Up to 4pm today, the CHP's hotline 2125 1111 has received 2,438 calls since it was set up on April 30.

DH has so far located 26 out of 62 passengers sitting in rows 57-63 of Cathy Pacific flight no. CX831 (codeshare American Airlines (AA6091)) who arrived in Hong Kong from New York on May 16. The other 34 passengers had already left Hong Kong.

CHP is still tracing two other passengers.

Seven out of nine crew members who had worked in the affected cabin had also been located.

The other two crew members had already left Hong Kong.

Twenty-nine of them have been taken to Lady MacLehose Holiday Camp for quarantine up to May 23 while four others who had respiratory symptoms were put under quarantine in hospitals.

These four people have been tested negative for human swine influenza today.

A passenger on the flight concerned was confirmed to have been infected with human swine influenza yesterday (May 17).

The spokesman urged people who had taken the flight concerned to call the Centre for Health Protection hotline 2125 1111 to facilitate follow up investigation by the department. A daily update on swine influenza in humans is now available on the CHP website (www.chp.gov.hk).
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[Giuseppe]

Re: HONG KONG, PRC SAR: RESPONSE AND TRACKING (by Govt Agencies)

Re: HONG KONG, PRC SAR: RESPONSE AND TRACKING (by Govt Agencies)

Hong Kong: A suspected case of human swine influenza in Guangzhou (5/18/09)

The Department of Health (DH) today (May 18) is conducting follow up investigation into a case in which a Mainland resident who had stayed in Hong Kong last week was suspected to have been infected with human swine influenza (Influenza A H1N1).


The patient is a 59-year-old man living in Guangdong Province who had stayed in a room on the 18th floor of Royal Plaza Hotel in Mong Kok with his wife for two days after arriving from Korea in the late evening of May 13.

The man developed sore throat and cough in the afternoon of May 14.

The couple checked out from the hotel before noon of May 15 and took a taxi from the hotel to Hung Hom Station at about 3.30pm.

They left for Guangzhou by through train (T810) in the afternoon on the same day.

The man felt chills and had fever while in the train and was isolated in a hospital upon arriving at Guangzhou.

According to the Guangdong health authority, the couple had travelled to Canada and the United States between April 22 and May 12 and arrived in Korea on May 12.

Public health personnel from the Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the DH today visited the hotel.

The Food and Environmental Hygiene Department also carried out disinfection of the room the patient stayed.

Meanwhile, the CHP has started tracing people with opportunities to have contact with the patient.

So far two staff members of the hotel who had served guests of 18th floor on May 14 and 15 have been identified.

They have no symptoms of influenza and will be taken to Lady MacLehose Holiday Village for quarantine up to May 22.

A DH spokesman urged people who had stayed on the 18th floor of Royal Plaza Hotel between late evening of May 13 and noon of May 15; those who sat in the 7th cabin of the through train (T810) on May 15; and the taxi driver to call the CHP hotline 2125 1111 to facilitate prompt investigations by the health authority.
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[Giuseppe]

Re: HONG KONG, PRC SAR: RESPONSE AND TRACKING (by Govt Agencies)

Re: HONG KONG, PRC SAR: RESPONSE AND TRACKING (by Govt Agencies)

Hong Kong: Situation report on human swine influenza (5/19/09)

A spokesman for the Department of Health said in the 24 hours to 12 noon today (May 19), 32 people were required to undergo human swine influenza (Influenza A H1N1) testing.


"They are in stable condition and laboratory results of their specimens are pending," the spokesman said.

So far, a total of 198 cases reported to the Centre of Health Protection (CHP) for human swine influenza testing were received.

Among them, 163 were tested negative.

Up to 4pm today, the CHP's hotline 2125 1111 has received 2,598 calls since it was set up on April 30.

Regarding the confirmed human swine influenza case in Guangzhou involving a 59-year-old man (the patient) who had stayed on the 18th floor of Royal Plaza Hotel in Mong Kok between late evening of May 13 and noon of May 15 (the period) before returning to the Mainland, a total of 51 guests might have stayed on the same floor of the hotel during the period.

Thirty-seven guests had left Hong Kong.

One of them returned today and has been put under quarantine.

In sum, five guests and two staff of the hotel are currently under quarantine in Hong Kong.

CHP is still tracing the other guests.

According to the information provided by the health authorities of Guangdong Province, a total of six passengers, who sat in the 7th cabin of the through train (T810) which the patient had taken on May 15, might stay in Hong Kong.

CHP has identified two passengers and is trying to contact the other four.

Also, CHP has already located the taxi driver who had taken the patient from the hotel to Hung Hom Station.

So far, five guests and two staff members of the hotel, two passengers on board the through train and the taxi driver have been taken to Lady MacLehose Holiday Village for quarantine.

All of them are asymptomatic.

The spokesman urged people who had stayed on the 18th floor of the hotel during the period and those who sat in the same cabin of the through train on May 15 to call CHP hotline 2125 1111 to facilitate follow up investigation.

A daily update on swine influenza in humans is now available on the CHP website (www.chp.gov.hk).
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[Giuseppe]

Re: HONG KONG, PRC SAR: RESPONSE AND TRACKING (by Govt Agencies)

Re: HONG KONG, PRC SAR: RESPONSE AND TRACKING (by Govt Agencies)

Hong Kong: Situation report on human swine influenza (5/20/09)

A spokesman for the Department of Health said in the 24 hours to 12 noon today (May 20) 40 people were required to undergo human swine influenza (Influenza A H1N1) testing.


"They are in stable condition and laboratory results of their specimens are pending," the spokesman said.

So far, a total of 238 cases reported to the Centre of Health Protection (CHP) for human swine influenza testing were received.

Among them, 193 were tested negative.

Up to 4pm today, the CHP's hotline 2125 1111 has received 2,720 calls since it was set up on April 30.

A daily update on human swine influenza in humans is now available on the CHP website (www.chp.gov.hk).
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[Giuseppe]

Re: HONG KONG, PRC SAR: RESPONSE AND TRACKING (by Govt Agencies)

Re: HONG KONG, PRC SAR: RESPONSE AND TRACKING (by Govt Agencies)

Hong Kong: Strategy for management of close contacts of HSI cases adjusted (5/20/09)

A spokesman for the Department of Health (DH) said today (May 20) that an updated strategy would be implemented on persons identified to have close contact with patients infected with human swine influenza (Influenza A H1N1).


The spokesman said the government had refined the general guidance for management of close contacts having regard to new developments in the understanding of human swine influenza (HSI).

"These include the latest global trend especially the large number of travelers from countries where community transmission is evident, latest information about HSI from the World Health Assembly especially the relatively milder severity of disease and limited genetic mutability so far, and the effectiveness of chemoprophylaxis which is also borne out by our local experience with quarantine and treatment.

"The objective of the containment strategy can be reasonably achieved so long as we can maintain good adherence to chemoprophylaxis supplemented by personal protective measures and close medical surveillance for symptoms and isolation as necessary," the spokesman said.

To implement the new strategy, the spokesman said the department would administer directly observed chemoprophylaxis (DOC) plus medical surveillance as an alternative to quarantine for close contacts.

This ensures total compliance with taking of chemoprophylaxis under medical supervision on site by DH health professionals.

"Starting tomorrow at 9 am, close contacts who commit to undergo DOC will not be required to be quarantined at holiday camps.

Instead, they will be prescribed with oseltamivir (Tamiflu) prophylaxis supervised by medical professionals," he said.

The first dose will be taken at the medical post in holiday camp under the supervision of DH medical staff. The medical post is manned round the clock. After taking the first dose of Tamiflu, close contacts will be required to attend on a daily basis one of five DH Chest Clinics providing DOC and medical surveillance on their health status. These Chest Clinics are Wan Chai Chest Clinic, East Kowloon Chest Clinic, Yau Ma Tei Chest Clinic, Yan Oi Chest Clinic, and Yuen Chau Kok Chest Clinic. Health advice will be provided on observance of personal protective measures such as wearing of face masks and keeping of good personal hygiene.

"The same arrangement will apply to those presently under quarantine at holiday camps.

Quarantine will be maintained for those who fail to adhere to DOC and medical surveillance, and may still be applied in exceptional circumstances where the situation warrants," the spokesman said.

The spokesman emphasized that contacts are different in nature to HSI patients, and that Tamiflu effectively reduces viral load and infection risk to others.

The chance of getting infected from close contacts under DOC has been demonstrably negligible.
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[Giuseppe]

Re: HONG KONG, PRC SAR: RESPONSE AND TRACKING (by Govt Agencies)

Re: HONG KONG, PRC SAR: RESPONSE AND TRACKING (by Govt Agencies)

Hong Kong: Situation report on human swine influenza (5/21/09)

A spokesman for the Department of Health (DH) said in the 24 hours to noon today (May 21) 35 people were required to undergo testing for human swine influenza (Influenza A H1N1).


"Four of them tested negative for human swine influenza while laboratory results of the remaining 31 are still pending," the spokesman said.

So far, a total of 273 cases have been reported to the Centre of Health Protection (CHP) for human swine influenza (HSI) testing.

Among them, 229 tested negative.

Up to 4pm today, the CHP's hotline 2125 1111 had received 2,839 calls since it was set up on April 30.

A daily update on human swine influenza in humans is now available on the CHP website (www.chp.gov.hk).
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[Giuseppe]

Re: HONG KONG, PRC SAR: RESPONSE AND TRACKING (by Govt Agencies)

Re: HONG KONG, PRC SAR: RESPONSE AND TRACKING (by Govt Agencies)

Hong Kong: SFH on human swine flu (with photo) (5/21/09)

Following is the transcript of remarks made by the Secretary for Food and Health, Dr York Chow, today (May 21) after meeting representatives of the tourism sector on Hong Kong's preparedness for human swine influenza:


Secretary for Food and Health:
Today I met with representatives of the travel industry.
We have discussed about how this human swine flu affects their business and the industry for the last month.
We have also made projections of what we need to prepare for the future.
In general, the industry suffered a lot in the last month since worldwide reports of human swine flu and discovery of the first case in Hong Kong three weeks ago.
With the recent knowledge of the virus and despite widespread infections in more than 40 countries, most of the cases are still relatively mild and treatable.
So we think that travel activities should continue as normal.
The only advice I give to the public is if they have any chronic illnesses, any disease or health condition that will affect their immunity, they should consider carefully before they travel, otherwise, all travel and economic activities in Hong Kong should be maintained.
We encourage them to make preparation for good personal hygiene while travelling.
This is the advice we give to the industry and the public.

Reporter:
This morning the directly observed chemoprophylaxis (DOC) was implemented. How effective do you think this DOC would stop the spread of human swine flu among the community? How confident are you that people placed under DOC would comply with instructions?

Secretary for Food and Health:
We have given people the option of either under DOC or stay in quarantine camp. So these are the two options given. If they are confident, they can take the medicine Tamiflu on a regular basis under supervision, the chance of them getting any infection is extremely low. From the experience we had in the last few weeks, with both quarantine as well as Tamiflu, we do not have a single case of any incident of transmission at all. So I think, with this, we are very confident that the DOC should work.

Reporter:
Will you be tough on people who do not comply?

Secretary for Food and Health:
They have been carefully briefed by the health officials. We will have an order for them to report under medical surveillance, so they need to comply. So if they do not comply, we will have the authority to put them under quarantine.

Reporter:
Would you consider putting down the emergency level?

Secretary for Food and Health:
The existing information of the WHO relies on the information from the few countries that have reports. The WHO will have a more detailed report from a few centres, particularly clinical reports next week. So by that time, we will be able to know the clinical picture, the virulence, the hospitalisation rate, the complication rate, and also the causes of death by then. So at this point of time, the general impression is that this is very similar to a seasonal flu type of epidemic, but knowing what happened to Mexico, and also the increase in incidents in the United States, it is still a concern whether this is the case when they spread to other places. On one hand, we are much better reassured that this is not as severe as we first thought, but on the other hand, we also have a lot of areas that we cannot predict at this point of time. And also the concern from the experts is not so much on this first wave, but may be the second wave that would come in winter. And the virus might have a higher activity, and also higher infection rate, and usually in winter, we also have a higher complication rate related to influenza. So we should not be too complacent regarding this, but on the other hand, since we are going to face such a long battle, we might as well try to make good of our livelihood. So we should not be totally affected by this infection. We should try to maintain as normal livelihood as possible, but keeping the precaution we wish to have for infectious disease and looking after our environment and personal hygiene.

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