The Government has announced a preparedness and response plan for Ebola in light of the outbreak in West Africa since August.
Secretary for Food & Health Dr Ko Wing-man told legislators today the Centre for Health Protection will launch an immediate epidemiological investigation once a suspected case is reported locally, and will implement disease control measures in collaboration with other departments.
The patient’s close contacts will be quarantined at a designated site for three weeks, while other contacts will be put under active medical surveillance for the same period. They will be transferred to an infectious disease centre for treatment if they develop symptoms.
The centre has also boosted surveillance by requiring travellers from the affected countries, and those who have visited those nations in the past three weeks, to fill in a health surveillance questionnaire.
Doctors are required by law to report any suspected cases to the centre. They have been notified of the reporting criteria and infection control recommendations.
Dr Ko said he is confident these prevention and control measures, and heightened vigilance, will reduce the risk of the virus spreading in Hong Kong.
