Prevention plan: Permanent Secretary for Health, Welfare & Food Carrie Yau says a population-based, cross-sectoral approach is vital for effective disease prevention.

Hong Kong cannot afford to be complacent over the avian flu threat, and like the Government, the public should prepare for any possible outbreak by stepping up hygiene.

This was the message today from government health chiefs after an interdepartmental meeting in bird flu.

Permanent Secretary for Health, Welfare & Food Carrie Yau said good preparation and prevention can help avoid an outbreak. Preventive measures imposed by the Government have been effective so far, but it is working to further tighten controls on the virus.

She said although the Mainland outbreak is worrying, there is no evidence yet of human-to-human transmission. However, to be cautious, she urged departments and agencies to identify room for improvement and fine-tune their plans in the light of the ever-changing situation.

"The underlying tenet is a population-based, cross-sectoral approach vital for effective disease prevention," she said.

Public participation

Centre for Health Protection controller Dr Leung Pak-yin said washing hands and wearing masks is the most effective prevention measure in a flu pandemic.

He said when there are human cases of avian flu locally, the centre will enhance its surveillance of novel influenza virus, review surveillance criteria, and activate its information systems to monitor cases and contacts in real time.

Epidemiological investigation will be conducted to determine whether the case is acquired locally or outside Hong Kong. Contact tracing, medical surveillance and quarantine measures will be conducted as appropriate to the situation. He said the body temperature checks will resume at immigration points if necessary.

On the antiviral drug stockpile, Dr Leung said the present level is 3.5 million dosages, sufficient for 350,000 patients. He said the stock will grow 10% by year's end and another four million doses will come next year.

The centre has also extended the scope of the free vaccination programme, which will start November 7, to include healthcare workers in elderly homes and institutions for the disabled, and children aged from six to 23 months and pregnant women who are Comprehensive Social Security Assistance recipients, in addition to other vulnerable groups.

Multi-departmental preparation

Hospital Authority Deputy Director (Professional Services) Dr Liu Shao-haei said medical resources of the whole community will be mobilised in the event of an outbreak.

A patient transfer mechanism will be formed between hospitals in the public and private sectors, leaving more capacity for public hospitals to focus on handling an outbreak. Regular drills are conducted.

On the monitoring of wild birds, Director of Agriculture, Fisheries & Conservation Thomas Chan said 7,000 bird samples and 493 dead birds have been tested and none were flu-positive.

Patrols have been enhanced to ensure all local poultry farms have proper biosecurity measures in place to separate contacts with wild birds. The department has also increased surveillance and monitoring of local chicken farms, and reminded farmers to immediately report the presence of sick and dead birds. Reminder letters have been issued to retailers on close observation of hygiene requirements and prompt reporting of dead or sick poultry.

The Leisure & Cultural Services Department is closely watching its collection of 1,500 birds in Hong Kong's four major public parks, and advised the public not to feed birds. Prosecution action will be enhanced against non-compliance.

The Education & Manpower Bureau has also reminded schools to adopt precautionary measures to prevent the spread of flu in schools.

For highlights of initiatives taken by individual departments and agencies click here.