On alert: Secretary for Health, Welfare & Food Dr Yeoh Eng-kiong (right) says Hong Kong's report system will be stepped up to allow early detection of any possible SARS case and to control its spread.

The Government's SARS surveillance and monitoring system has been stepped up after the suspected SARS case in Guangzhou was confirmed by the Ministry of Health today.

Secretary for Health, Welfare & Food Dr Yeoh Eng-kiong said the strategy is to step up our report system to allow early detection of any possible SARS case and control its spread in Hong Kong.

Outbreak chances slim

Dr Yeoh said as we now know more about the disease, the chance of a massive SARS outbreak in Hong Kong is slim.

With these measures, he said he is confident Hong Kong will detect any suspected SARS case as early as possible.

According to the surveillance system, public and private hospitals as well as general practitioners in clinics would pass information about patients with pneumonia symptoms and travel history to Guangdong Province to the DH for contact tracing and analysis. 

DH's Public Health Laboratory Centre would conduct polymerase chain reaction tests on these patients for early detection of any SARS coronavirus infection.  The department would also provide health advice to the close contacts and look for early signs of disease spread. 

"We need both the help of private doctors and the public's cooperation in making this surveillance effective," Dr Yeoh said.

The measures include:

* strengthening communication with Mainland authorities;

* urging private doctors and hospitals to report any pneumonia cases in which patients had visited Guangdong 10 days before contracting the disease;

* conducting quick tests on samples of all community-acquired pneumonia cases;

* enhancing publicity on SARS prevention measures; and,

* stepping up checks at border control points.

Dr Yeoh said the Government will continue to keep close contact with the World Health Organisation and will keep the public informed of the latest developments.

Director of Health Dr Lam Ping-yan said the precautionary measures at immigration control points have been stepped up since December 27. Since then, 400 people were reported to be unwell. None had SARS symptoms.

Hospital Authority Chief Executive Dr William Ho said the body will implement a number of new measures to prevent the possible return of SARS.

He said, with immediate effect, all patients visiting the clinics will be required to have their temperatures checked. Those with fever will be treated separately from other patients.

All staff and visitors in the hospital area have to wear masks and visitors are required to wash hands before leaving wards.

Vigilance stepped up in other sectors

Meanwhile, the Tourism Commission said the travel sector and related industries have been updated on the latest precautionary measures against infectious diseases, including SARS. The Transport Department has reminded operators to step up hygiene.

The Social Welfare Department is monitoring all welfare service units. Guidelines and relevant documents have been issued to frontline staff and operators of elderly homes, childcare centres and sheltered workshops.

Information on various forms of welfare assistance has been disseminated through various channels. Details are also available on the department's homepage or by calling 2343 2255.

The Education & Manpower Bureau said schools should refer to its Handbook on Prevention of SARS in Schools. The information is also available on its website as well as the Checklist of Measures to Combat SARS.

If unusual symptoms of infection are noticed or a large number of students are on sick leave, schools should notify the Regional Offices of the Department of Health as well as the respective District School Development Section of the bureau.

Parents are reminded to take their children's temperature daily before sending them to school. If a student has a fever or is not feeling well, they should be taken to a doctor and be allowed to rest at home.