Press Releases

Response Team to step up pro-active efforts against SARS

The Health, Welfare and Food Bureau (HWFB) confirmed today (May 13) that the multi-disciplinary response team, which has been taking pro-active actions to control the spread of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS), will further step up its effort in combating the disease.

The Team, which is led by the Department of Health with HWFB serving as a facilitator, comprises representatives from the Housing Department, Buildings Department, Food and Environmental Hygiene Department, Environmental Protection Department, Drainage Services Department and the Police Force. Other departments would be brought in depending on the nature of the responsive action required.

At present, whenever there is a building with two or more confirmed, suspected or under observation SARS cases, the Team would promptly conduct investigations into the probable causes. It would then map out the measures and actions required for proactive actions, for example,

*Alerting the building management agency of the need to maintain satisfactory hygienic conditions;
*Distributing health advice and guidelines on household disinfections to residents;
*Conducting inspections to ascertain the state of cleanliness of the building;
*Collating and collecting information from residents by conducting further interviews;
*Maintaining medical surveillance of the residents and imposing home confinement for household contacts;
*Collection of environmental and other swabs for laboratory testing if necessary; and
*Inspection of the drainage system of the building and the underground sewerage system.

To step up our effort in combating SARS, the Team will from now on extend its coverage to all buildings which have only one confirmed SARS case. Particular attention will be paid to the general cleanliness of the building, the mode of refuse collection, pest problems, building drainage design and condition of the pipings.

End/Tuesday, May 13, 2003
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