Hong Kong's health authorities are on alert and have taken preventive measures in light of the new SARS case in Singapore.
This was the message from Secretary for Health, Welfare & Food Dr Yeoh Eng-kiong in response to reporters' queries just after his visit to the Fu Hong Society Rehabilitation Centre today.
The Department of Health has contacted its Singaporean counterpart and the World Health Organisation to learn more about the background of the case.
Laboratories advised to tighten surveillance
Speaking to reporters this evening, Acting Director of Health Dr Leung Pak-yin stressed that it is an isolated case.
Noting that the patient works in two laboratories, Dr Leung said the department has alerted laboratories of the Hospital Authority, and HK and Chinese Universities to tighten their surveillance and strictly observe the precautionary measures while conducting tests.
"According to our Singapore counterparts, the specimen taken from the patient will be sent to the WHO for further analysis," Dr Leung said.
Dr Yeoh said it was important for Hong Kong to have direct links with overseas health authorities and the WHO in the global surveillance of infectious diseases.
"We have established a mechanism for alerting each other in case there are unusual infections occurring under unusual circumstances in infectious diseases that we should be notified of," he said.
Airport health checks enhanced
As a precaution, the Government has bolstered health checks on in-coming travellers from Singapore at the airport, and stepped up the distribution of health alert cards to remind these travellers to stay vigilant.
"Existing health screening measures, including health declaration and temperature screening at border control points, will remain in place. It is imperative that everybody, the community and the visitors alike, must be put on high alert," Dr Yeoh said.
Private hospitals and general practitioners alerted
The Department of Health has alerted private hospitals and general practitioners of the Singapore case, while the Hospital Authority is ready to prepare itself for any possible re-emergence of SARS.
On isolation facilities, the Government had already allocated more than $400 million to provide 1,290 isolation beds for SARS patients in nine hospitals.
Dr Yeoh expects the first batch of facilities to be ready by the end of this month, and 70% will be ready by the end of next month.
Hospital Authority alert system activated
The Hospital Authority has activated its alert system in the clinical setting.
"We are now evaluating the alert mechanism to see whether any adjustment needs to be made," Dr Yeoh said.
The Government and the authority have developed contingency plans and they will be tested in due course.
"In the context of the work that we are doing, I would like to assure the public that we have done all we can to better prepare ourselves for the re-emergence of SARS," Dr Yeoh said.
"Certainly, we are much better prepared now than we were at the start of the previous outbreak. We should have sufficient facilities and manpower to deal with any possible outbreak. We are all on high alert."
Dr Yeoh called on people to continue good hygiene practices developed during the SARS epidemic.
"I would like to remind the public that we need to continue with our vigilance. Other than the measures that we implemented, the public can also play a very active part."
Departments continue to take preventive measures
Meanwhile, in preparation for a possible comeback of SARS, Permanent Secretary for Health, Welfare & Food Carrie Yau held a meeting today to urge departments concerned to continue taking preventive measures in the coming months.
These include requiring students to take their temperature every day before attending school, enhancing outreach support to elderly homes by the Department of Health and the Hospital Authority, strict enforcement of temperature checking for passengers at border control points and maintaining active surveillance at clinics, schools, child care centres and elderly homes.
Bureaux and departments will remain vigilant and keep in close touch with various trades and sectors to ensure the community adopts appropriate preventive measures.
Personal hygiene essential
To help prevent respiratory tract infection, people must:
* Maintain good personal hygiene, and wash hands after sneezing, coughing or cleaning the nose;
* Maintain good ventilation;
* Avoid visiting crowded places with poor ventilation;
* Consult a doctor promptly if they develop respiratory symptoms;
* Put on a mask if suffering from respiratory tract infection to reduce the chance of spreading the infection to people around them; and,
* Build up good body immunity by having a proper diet, regular exercise and adequate rest, reducing stress and avoiding smoking.
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