Members of the Mainland-Hong Kong expert group on atypical pneumonia met in Guangzhou yesterday and today. Hong Kong delegates visited hospitals and laboratories there and shared experiences with their Mainland counterparts.

Clinical treatment, hygiene administration management, epidemiology and pathology of the disease all came up for discussion.

The expert group members agreed to the following measures:

* Periodic notification on the latest atypical pneumonia situation

The two sides agreed improve the notification mechanism.They will pass on the latest information on the disease regularly through telephone, facsimile and email.They will share cumulative case reports, figures on the number of cases, deaths, patients discharged as well as clinical treatment, epidemiological investigations, and progress on pathological study.

* Enhanced mechanism for exchange of information on disease control work

Both sides agreed to set up an exchange mechanism to enhance communication and to draw on each other's experience in disease control. A mechanism will be established between the Health Department of Guangdong Province and the Hong Kong's Department of Health; the Center for Disease Control & Prevention of Guangdong Province and the Disease Prevention & Control Division of Hong Kong's Department of Health; and hospitals and pathology study institutions.

* Exchange of information on other infectious diseases

Both sides saw the importance of early information exchanges that will help control and prevent infectious diseases. Members of the expert group will expand the list of notifiable infectious diseases, including cholera, dengue fever, malaria and tuberculosis.

The second expert group meeting will take place in Hong Kong in May to exchange the latest information on the control of the spread of atypical pneumonia.

The Mainland expert group includes representatives from the Health Department of Guangdong Province, Center for Disease Control & Prevention and several hospitals in Guangdong. The Hong Kong delegation comprises representatives from the Health, Welfare & Food Bureau, Department of Health and Hospital Authority.