HK Ebola ready
August 19, 2014
Hong Kong has sufficient preventive measures against the Ebola virus that comply with World Health Organisation recommendations.
Briefing the media after today’s Scientific Committee on Emerging & Zoonotic Diseases meeting, Centre for Health Protection Controller Dr Leung Ting-hung said the Government is monitoring the availability of safe and effective vaccines and antivirals for Ebola.
Committee chairman Prof Yuen Kwok-yung said that while Hong Kong has sufficient preventive measures against Ebola, it may still be difficult to prevent imported cases, which may expose health professionals to the virus.
Vaccines and medicines still under research and in development cannot yet be imported to Hong Kong, he added.
To prevent and control the virus, the committee recommended early identification of suspected cases at boundary control points, intensive surveillance, stringent infection control by healthcare professionals, maintaining close liaison with the WHO, and enhancing health education for travellers and the public.
