Press Releases
Control measures on SARS in Hong Kong take effect
The Secretary for Health, Welfare and Food, Dr Yeoh Eng-kiong, today (May 20) told health experts around the world at the technical briefing session on severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) of the 56th World Health Assembly in Geneva that the stringent control measures on SARS being implemented by the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government (HKSARG) had been effective.
"The daily reported cases had been on a steady downward trend and the daily figure has been in the single digit territory since May 4," Dr Yeoh said.
"There is also evidence that our contact tracing is thorough and of good quality: 91 per cent of our SARS cases can be linked to a known source of exposure.
"Of those whose exposure cannot be determined, serology results show that more than half were negative for coronavirus."
Outlining the sequence of SARS outbreak in Hong Kong since March 11, Dr Yeoh said there had been a steady and consistent decline in the number of new cases for the past four weeks.
As of yesterday (May 19), a total of 1,714 confirmed SARS cases were reported in Hong Kong. In all, 71 per cent or 1,213 patients had made a full recovery and had been discharged while 63 were convalescing in hospitals. There were 251 deaths.
Sharing Hong Kong's experience with other participants, Dr Yeoh said the HKSARG had adopted a four-pronged strategy to contain the outbreak -- early detection, swift contact tracing, prompt isolation and quarantine, and effective containment.
He said: "The strategy has the effects of shortening the interval between onset symptoms and admission to hospital, limiting the infectious period of the SARS cases, and preventing further spread of the disease."
Dr Yeoh noted early detection has been a key corner stone of infectious diseases control that led to prompt treatment and swift contact tracing.
In this respect, the HKSARG has implemented a comprehensive public education programme to enhance public awareness of SARS symptoms and to bring about early presentation of cases to medical facilities.
On contact tracing, Dr Yeoh noted that the work had been strengthened by the use of modern technology -- the highly sophisticated computer system of the police -- that helped prompt case investigation and rapid contact tracing.
Turning to prompt isolation and quarantine, Dr Yeoh said Hong Kong had taken extra step to prohibit SARS contacts from leaving the territory during the 10-day incubation period.
"Using information that is accurate and transmitted on-line, contacts of SARS patients can be identified swiftly, and actions of home quarantine and medical surveillance of up to 10 days can be implemented rapidly," he said.
Dr Yeoh noted statistics had showed the measure had taken its effect on the prevention of the spread of the virus.
As at May 18, a total of 1,185 persons from 467 households had been served home quarantine notice, with 23 of them subsequently found to have SARS.
On the fourth strategy -- effective containment, Dr Yeoh said the strategy comprised three components, namely the multi-disciplinary response team, protection of healthcare workers, and health checks at border points.
He informed the assembly that the HKSARG has set up a multi-disciplinary response team comprising experts in public health, building management and environmental hygiene.
The response team has a dual purpose: investigations and carrying out remedial actions in hotspots or buildings with the potential of an outbreak. Advance actions of environmental decontamination and pest control will also be carried out when needed.
Dr Yeoh also stressed that protection of healthcare workers remained a key priority of the HKSARG in the battle against SARS.
He further outlined the infection control measures in public hospitals including the provision of appropriate protective gears, improving the ventilation systems in hospitals, and training in infection control for healthcare staff.
In addition, the public had been prohibited from visiting isolation SARS wards and were discouraged to visit hospitals in general to prevent the spread of the disease.
On health check at border points, Dr Yeoh said health checks were beefed up at immigration control points with the setting up of medical posts as well as the requirement of all incoming travellers to complete health declaration.
In addition, the requirement for temperature check for all travellers, which was first introduced to all arriving, departing and transit passengers at the airport, is now extended to cover all cross-boundary land, rail and sea transport centres.
Since the implementation of the above health checking measures till May 18, 79 persons had been referred to hospitals for suspected SARS. Of them, two were later confirmed to have SARS.
In conclusion, Dr Yeoh was confident that partnership and cooperation among various jurisdictions would ultimately help Hong Kong prevail over the disease though the SARS outbreak had placed Hong Kong under tremendous pressure.
He said Hong Kong could pull through this saga because it has a team of dedicated professional healthcare workers.
"We are also fortunate to have an understanding and co-operative public who have stood behind us in our fight against the disease despite considerable inconvenience.
"Last but not the least is the determination of the HKSARG in taking different decisions to implement the necessary public health and infection control measures to control the spread of the disease," he said.
Dr Yeoh also took the opportunity to thank WHO for its leadership, support guidance and help in getting SARS under control in Hong Kong.
Organised by the World Health Organisation, the 56th World Health Assembly is being held between May 19 and 28 in Geneva.
End/Tuesday, May 20, 2003
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