Health alert: Medical and nursing staff urge Indonesians and other ethnic minorities at Victoria Park to stay on guard against bird flu.

At a publicity drive in Victoria Park, medical and nursing staff from the Centre for Health Protection urge the public, in particular Indonesians and other ethnic minorities in Hong Kong, to stay on guard against bird flu.

Today's exercise was launched as part of measures to prevent avian flu in view of the recent human avian influenza cases in Indonesia. For details of the latest situation, click here.

Staff gave out leaflets that outline bird flu's transmission mode and symptoms as well as preventive measures to people in the park and answered their queries.

The centre has been closely monitoring the bird flu situation in the region following the outbreaks of the disease in Thailand and Vietnam last year.

Visitors abroad urged to avoid chickens

A series of preventive measures have been put in place in Hong Kong this year, including broadcasting health messages onboard all in-bound flights from Indonesia, Vietnam, Cambodia and Thailand. Health information leaflets are also distributed to passengers leaving for these countries.

Travellers should avoid direct contact with chickens or their faeces, and avoid visiting farms. If contact has been made, they should wash their hands thoroughly with soap and water as soon as possible.

They should also be on the lookout for any symptoms of flu-like illness including fever, sore throat and coughing after returning to Hong Kong. If symptoms develop, they should seek medical attention promptly and provide their travel history to the doctor.