Secretary for Health, Welfare and Food Yeoh Eng-kiong on Tuesday
shared Hong Kong's experience in tackling SARS at a global
conference on the disease in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, according to a
government press release.
Addressing the plenary session of the World Health Organization's
Global Conference on SARS, Yeoh gave an overview of what was
currently known about the clinical behavior of SARS by local
clinicians and medical experts.
He
explained in particular the significance of environmental sources
of infection as experienced during the outbreak at Amoy Gardens,
which had witnessed the contraction of SARS of some 300
patients.
Yeoh then went into details to explain Hong Kong's strategy in
controlling the epidemic. He shared with participants the four
strategies that were taken in terms of early detection, swift
contact tracing, early isolation and quarantine, and effective
containment.
In
particular, he noted the enhanced computer surveillance system --
Major Incident Investigation and Disaster Support System(MIIDSS) --
which had helped swift contact tracing of suspected and confirmed
cases, and the setting up of a multi-disciplinary response team
comprising various government departments in carrying out prompt
investigation and remedial actions.
Noting elderly persons with long-term illness had a higher
incidence of death associated with SARS and that some of them did
not present the symptom of fever, Yeoh pointed out all elderly
discharged patients had to be isolated for 10 more days in order to
reduce the risk of spread.
Apart from this strict discharge policy, the government had also
issued written guidelines on infection control for elderly homes.
Appropriate training had also been provided to carers and
inspections had been stepped up to ensure compliance with the
guidelines and precautionary measures, he added.
Noting the allocation of some 1.7 billion HK dollars (US$218
million) since the outbreak for strengthening public health work
and medical research, Yeoh said the government was committed to
protecting Hong Kong's public health.
Yeoh said effective control of infectious diseases such as SARS
required strong international collaborative partnership and
cross-border co-operation.
The two-day global conference on June 17-18 is being held by WHO to
gather expert views about the effectiveness of the response to date
and the likely evolution of SARS in both the near future and longer
term.
It
is being attended by more than 1,000 scientists and clinicians,
including specialists who have been at the frontline of SARS
investigation and response since the outbreak began.
(Xinhua News Agency June 18, 2003)