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Hong Kong has escalated its alert level to 'serious' in response to the swine influenza outbreak in humans in Mexico and the US.
Secretary for Food & Health Dr York Chow made the announcement after an emergency meeting on the issue today. He urged residents to avoid travelling to affected cities and said swine influenza will be added to Hong Kong's list of notifiable diseases.
He said people returning from affected areas will be subjected to tighter monitoring for signs of fever or respiratory illnesses. Travellers who are suspected of being infected will be quarantined and monitored.
The Government will work closely with the University of Hong Kong to develop faster testing methods for the virus and will enhance public education and information.
"The virus is not affecting pigs directly and it will not be transmitted through pork, so I have to reassure the public consumption of pork will not lead to any infection," Dr Chow said.
Surveillance measures at boundary control points have been boosted to detect travellers with fever and respiratory symptoms coming from places where human infection of swine influenza cases have been reported.
The Centre for Health Protection has asked airlines to broadcast health advice messages on all direct flights from Mexico and the US. Passengers with respiratory symptoms should contact airport health officers for checks.
People travelling to the affected places should take precautionary measures, like avoiding contact with sick people, avoiding touching one's eyes, nose or mouth, washing hands frequently with soap and water, and applying alcohol-based hand cleaners. They should also bring along surgical masks.
Human cases of swine influenza have been confirmed in San Diego and the Imperial Counties of California, and Guadalupe County in Texas with no fatalities. In Mexico three separate events of influenza-like illnesses have been reported in the Federal District of Mexico, San Luis Potosi and Mexicali. Of the Mexican cases, 18 have been laboratory confirmed in Canada as swine influenza A/H1N1.
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