Hong Kong will reassess its anti-SARS efforts as the Guangdong Province Health Department has been stepping down contingency measures since March 19.

The Hong Kong measures were implemented following the activation of the SARS emergency response system alarm in December.

HK, Guangdong exchange views on disease control

A delegation of medical professionals led by Director of Health Dr Lam Ping-yan met with Guangdong counterparts in Guangzhou today and exchanged views on the control, surveillance and clinical treatment of infectious diseases including SARS, influenza and AIDS.

Both parties agreed the existing communication channels and disease information exchange mechanisms between Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macau are effective in enhancing dissemination of disease information in the three places. Also, scientific collaborations and meetings between Guangdong and Hong Kong medical and health experts have achieved fruitful results.

Hong Kong and Guangdong officials exchanged data on disease surveillance for SARS, and reviewed and analysed the four confirmed SARS cases reported in Guangzhou early this year and the corresponding control measures.

No secondary spread in Guangzhou SARS cases

Due to the high degree of alertness of Mainland health professionals, there was no secondary spread in any of the cases.

The meeting maintained that existing surveillance systems have played a vital role in preventing and controlling infectious diseases.

Both parties agreed that close co-operation between Guangdong and Hong Kong in the prevention of infectious diseases, including the sharing of experience in workshops on human bird flu control in Guangdong, has ensured the two places are free from human bird flu infections.

Dr Lam extended an invitation on behalf of the Secretary for Health, Welfare & Food Dr Yeoh Eng-kiong to Guangdong Provincial CPPCC Committee vice-chairman and Guangdong Health Department Director-General Professor Yao Zhi-bing to observe Hong Kong's public health system later this year.