Information Note
Provisional LegCo Panel on Health Services
Meeting on 12 January 1998

Purpose

This paper sets out the latest position of the Influenza A H5N1 virus and the further follow-up actions taken by the Administration after the special meeting of the Panel on Health Services held on 31 December 1997.

Latest Case Numbers

2. As at 9 January 1998, 16 cases have been confirmed and one is on the suspected case list as below:-

	Confirmed Case	Suspected Case	Total
Recovered and discharged	7	1	8
Hospitalised - conditions satisfactory	3	0	3
Hospitalised - conditions critical	2	0	2
Died	4	0	4
Total	16	1	17

Progress Since The Last Meeting

3. A briefing session to the representatives of the Consul-Generals of various countries was held on 6 January 1998. They were briefed on the latest developments and the measures taken by the Administration. We have emphasised that the screening of travellers coming in or going out of Hong Kong is not necessary.

4. The Director of Education has issued letters to school principals advising them to pay close attention to the Department of Health's advice on public health and to take appropriate measures to arouse students’ awareness towards health and hygiene. The school principals are also advised to render appropriate assistance to students who are observed to have strong emotional reaction against the recent reporting and management of Influenza A H5N1.

Future Measures

5. The Centres for Diseases Control and Prevention at Atlanta in the United States is still working on about 3,000 samples collected in connection with various Influenza A H5N1 cases. Test results of samples related to the first few cases are expected to be available by end of January.

6. To continue to monitor the situation, a territory-wide surveillance network implemented through public hospitals, government clinics and the clinics of some private practitioners will be maintained. Furthermore, we will continue to provide enhanced general out-patient services to the public and test service for the poultry workers and their families.

7. A massive and thorough cleansing exercise is being carried out in local chicken farms, wholesale markets and poultry retail outlets under the supervision of relevant departments to ensure that these places are free from virus infection.

8. An information sheet on Influenza A H5N1 will be issued to the traditional Chinese medicine practitioners and their associations to provide them with updated information on the Influenza A H5N1 cases, clinical presentation of the disease and the possible mode of transmission.

Conclusions

9. No reports of suspected or confirmed cases of Influenza A H5N1, the patients of which could have contracted the virus after the slaughter exercise, have been received so far. We will remain to be vigilant to keep up with the surveillance on the disease.

Health and Welfare Bureau
8 January 1998