August 16, 2004

Hong Kong Steps Up Monitoring Efforts To Prevent Avian Influenza

In light of the confirmation of H5 avian influenza outbreaks involving three persons in Vietnam, the Center for Health Protection (CHP) of Hong Kong Department of Health (DH) has stepped up its monitoring and surveillance efforts to prevent avian influenza in Hong Kong.

A CHP spokesman said Friday that the CHP has been maintaining close liaison with the relevant authorities of Vietnam and the World Health Organization (WHO) on the ongoing investigation in Vietnam.

Hong Kong has an intensive surveillance system for human influenza. There have been no H5N1 isolates identified in Hong Kong in 2004.

The three cases in Vietnam came after reports stating that new outbreaks have been occurring in poultry populations in that country since July this year. Further testing is underway to determine if the H5 virus is the same H5N1 strain that have caused the outbreaks earlier this year.

The spokesman said "the previous cases suggested that the main mode of transmission is from bird-to-man. Man-to-man transmission remains inefficient and rare."

"However, we need to be vigilant in keeping our guard against any mutation or re-assortment of the virus that may have an impact on human health," the spokesman added.

The DH has urged the Hospital Authority, private hospitals and private doctors in Hong Kong to maintain vigilance in infection control and disease reporting. Health information is also being sent to the travel industry.

According to the spokesman, the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department as well as the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department have temporarily suspended the importation of live birds and poultry meat from Vietnam since January this year.

Importation of live birds and poultry meat from a number of places with reports of highly pathogenic avian influenza has also been suspended.