The health authorities of Hong Kong, Guangdong and Macau agreed to enhance co-operation and preparedness against infectious illness in the 16th Tripartite Meeting on Prevention & Control of Communicable Diseases in Hong Kong today.
Director of Health Dr Constance Chan said the three jurisdictions face the same public health threat from communicable diseases.
"Areas with ongoing Zika virus transmission have been on the rise in recent months and imported cases were recorded in Hong Kong and Guangdong. With the presence of the Zika vector, Aedes mosquitoes, the risk of possible local cases and outbreaks in the three places has significantly increased," she said.
The three parties agreed to boost communication, notification, prevention, preparedness and vector control for mosquito-borne diseases, including Zika and Dengue fever.
They will promote joint disease research, including data collection and analysis of mosquito-borne diseases and human infection of avian influenza, as well as implement the co-operation agreement on public health emergencies.
They will also improve the notification system and joint co-operation, advance exchange and training among disease experts, and extend exchange and co-operation in fighting antimicrobial resistance.
