Hong Kong has activated the three-level SARS emergency response system following the verification of two confirmed and two suspected SARS cases on the Mainland.

An emergency response command structure involving senior officials from the Health, Welfare & Food Bureau, the Department of Health and the Hospital Authority has been set up. It will monitor developments closely and decide on appropriate action.

According to the emergency response system, the Alert Level will be activated when there is a laboratory confirmed SARS case outside Hong Kong.

Centre for Health Protection Controller Dr Leung Pak-yin said the department will maintain close contact with Mainland counterparts.

"As a preventive measure, the department is distributing health alert cards to passengers arriving from Beijing and Anhui by air and rail," he said.

Additional staff deployed to screen passengers

Additional healthcare staff have also been deployed to the airport and the Hung Hom through-train terminal to watch for ill passengers, in addition to ongoing stringent health screening measures including temperature screening and health declarations.

All in-bound flights from these two places and through-trains from Beijing have also been requested to broadcast relevant messages to passengers.

"Health information leaflets about the situation in Beijing and Anhui and health advice are being distributed to passengers coming from and leaving for these two places," Dr Leung said.

Healthcare professionals reminded to report disease

The authority, private hospitals, all doctors, healthcare professionals and laboratory personnel are being alerted to the incidents.

"They are reminded to maintain vigilance in disease reporting. We are also sending letters to all traditional Chinese medicine practitioners to advise them to be vigilant," Dr Leung said.

"Even though Hong Kong has been free from SARS since last June, the general public is reminded to remain vigilant and observe good personal hygiene."

Hospital Authority activates Yellow Alert response

The Hospital Authority's Central Committee on Infectious Disease met after learning of the Mainland SARS cases and recommended activating the online reporting system.

Healthcare workers will be able to report immediately to the Authority's head office to follow up with all in-patients with pneumonia and a history of visiting related areas within 10 days before the onset of their symptoms.

Existing visiting arrangements to hospital patients will continue. Acute ward patients have a maximum of four hours' visiting time; convalescent and infirmary ward patients have a maximum of six hours'.

The public are reminded to follow hospital staff instructions when visiting in-patients.

The authority has in place a monitoring system of staff on sick leave, to be alerted early to clusters of staff falling sick with specific symptoms.

The Central Committee on Infectious Disease will closely monitor the situation and review infection-control procedures.

SARS prevention tips

To prevent respiratory tract infection, people should:

* maintain good personal hygiene, and wash hands after sneezing, coughing or cleaning the nose;

* maintain good ventilation;

* avoid visiting crowded places with poor ventilation;

* consult a doctor promptly if respiratory symptoms develop;

* put on a mask if suffering from respiratory tract infections; and,

* build up good body immunity by having a proper diet, regular exercise and adequate rest, reducing stress and avoiding smoking.