Flu fight: Centre for Health Protection Controller Dr Thomas Tsang and Under Secretary for Food & Health Prof Gabriel Leung brief reporters on the latest developments in human swine flu.

All kindergartens, kindergarten and child care centres, special schools, primary and secondary schools - including private independent schools, international and English Schools Foundation schools - will start the new school year as scheduled.

The Education Bureau made the announcement today after considering the Department of Health's latest assessment, which reckons human swine flu causes relatively mild disease though it is a new virus that is easily transmitted.

To safeguard teachers' and students' health, schools should be well-prepared before the new school year starts by following the Centre for Health Protection's guidelines on prevention of human swine flu for the new school year's commencement.

"They should thoroughly cleanse and disinfect their premises before the first school day, and continue to stay alert. The bureau will provide an extra $3,000 one-off grant to each school to purchase necessary equipment or necessities," Secretary for Education Michael Suen said.

Indicators for suspension

A letter will be issued to schools today on the detailed arrangements in preparation for the new school year. It will also be uploaded onto the bureau's website. Schools can also refer to the Handbook on Prevention of Human Swine Influenza in Schools.

After classes begin, the centre will advise individual schools whether to suspend classes if they have a swine flu outbreak. Indicators include students' sick-leave rate reaching 10% or more, students hospitalisation rate exceeding 1%, admission of two or more students to the intensive care unit, or the death of an otherwise healthy student due to flu.

The general period for class suspension is seven days, but the centre will consider conditions such as the number of students affected, severely ill and hospitalised in advising whether individual school should extend class suspension.

If necessary, the bureau will make an early announcement on the arrangements of citywide class suspension after consulting concerned departments.

Clinics service adjustment

Speaking at a press conference this afternoon, Under Secretary for Food & Health Prof Gabriel Leung said the designated flu clinics' operating arrangement will be adjusted next month.

From August 17, they will resume service for chronic disease patients. Proper segregation will be put in place to prevent cross infection between the two types of patients.

On public concerns over the criteria of medication treatment for patients, he said public hospital and designated flu clinic doctors will advise on the use of Tamiflu for patients with chronic diseases or immuno-compromised patients, especially when their symptoms persist or deteriorate.

"The expert group of the Hospital Authority which met over the last weekend made the initial recommendations on the prescription of Tamiflu to other high-risk patients as well, including obese patients, smokers and children below the age of six. 

"It is also recommended that all inpatients with community-acquired pneumonia be prescribed with anti-viral drugs to reduce the chance of complications due to influenza."

Side-effects management

For patients confirmed to have human swine flu, designated flu clinics will inform them and prescribe Tamiflu. As anti-viral drugs may have more serious side-effects on pregnant women and children below the age of one, doctors will discuss the risks with patients or their family and prescribe medication only with their consent. 

To minimise the side effects on pregnant women, Relenza in a spray mode is usually recommended.

Prof Leung expects the tendering procedures for  procuring human swine flu vaccine can be completed in the third quarter. He hoped vaccine manufacturers will complete and release data about the safety and effects of their vaccines in the next few months.

"We hope that registration of the vaccine can be done by the end of this year. The Government now has sufficient stock of Tamiflu and Relenza, and there is sufficient supply of such drugs in the market for private doctors and clinics."

Hong Kong's human swine flu tally has grown to 1,810. Thirty-three patients are being hospitalised, with eight in serious condition. Among them, five are critical. Five of these eight patients belong to high-risk group, while two sought medical consultation after the onset of symptoms or a few days after their condition worsened.

Although the World Health Organisation has stopped updating the number of confirmed cases in all countries and places, the Centre for Health Protection will continue to announce the figure and will review this arrangement in August.