Press Releases
Interdepartmental task force to review latest development of Streptococcus suis infection
The interdepartmental task force chaired by the Secretary for Health, Welfare
and Food, Dr York Chow, met this (July 30) morning to review the latest
development in respect of the Streptococcus suis outbreak in the Sichuan
Province and to map out strategies and control measures to deal with the
evolving situation..
Members include senior officials of the Health, Welfare and Food Bureau, the
Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD), the Food and
Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) and the Department of Health (DH).
A spokesman for the Health, Welfare and Food Bureau said the task force expected
that the number of reported cases would likely rise in the next few days in
light of the recent heightened awareness over Streptococcus suis infection.
The Government would continue to remain vigilant and would focus particular
attention as to whether there would be extraordinary outbreaks or cases, the
spokesman added.
The Government would maintain daily contact with its relevant counterparts,
including the Ministry of Health, the State General Administration of Quality
Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine (AQSIQ) and the Ministry of Agriculture
to obtain the most up-to-date information and to better understand the latest
situation in respect of the outbreak on the Mainland.
The task force would adjust its strategies, as well as inspection and quarantine
measures in response to the latest development in Sichuan and other provinces to
protect public health in Hong Kong.
The spokesman said the Government decided to adopt the following new
precautionary measures to reduce the risk of an outbreak in Hong Kong and to
guard against the disease:
On food safety:
*The FEHD will strengthen inspection and quarantine work at the points of entry
for imported live pigs and pork from various provinces of the Mainland as well
as the ante-mortem and post-mortem inspection of pigs in slaughterhouses. If
there is any abnormality, FEHD will conduct further inspection and testing and
will follow up the matter with the relevant Mainland authority including, where
necessary, visits to the registered pig farms and meat processing factories to
ensure that live pigs and frozen pork destined for Hong Kong are in compliance
with the health inspection and quarantine requirements.
On local farms:
*Remind farmers to spray disinfectant powder on pig carcasses and then place
them in double layer plastic bags before sending them to Animal Carcasses
Collection Points (ACCP). They should contact FEHD staff to check the collection
time before sending carcasses there so as to avoid carcasses staying in ACCP for
too long.
*The FEHD will reinforce inspection work at ACCPs, arrange prompt removal of pig
carcasses and step up enforcement against the illegal disposal or dumping of pig
carcasses.
On port health:
*The DH will distribute information leaflets at the Hong Kong International
Airport with effect from today to travellers leaving for Sichuan Province and
arriving in Hong Kong from Sichuan to remind them to keep good personal hygiene
and not to have contact with pigs while staying in Sichuan. Meanwhile, publicity
education would be stepped up at immigration checkpoints.
* Travellers arriving in Hong Kong from Sichuan Province are advised to seek
medical consultation as soon as possible if they feel unwell and inform the
doctor of the their travel history.
On publicity front:
* TV and Radio Announcement in Public Interest are being produced to remind
members of the public to take precautionary measures when handling raw pork.
* Members of the public can make use of DH's 24-hour Health Information System
hotline (2833 0111) which provides useful health advice concerning the
prevention of Streptococcus suis.
*The FEHD has uploaded "Safety Tips on Handling Pork" on the department's
website www.fehd.gov.hk as
a general precautionary measure against infection.
The spokesman appealed to the public not to buy pork where the source was
doubtful. He reminded that it was an offence to bring raw pork meat into Hong
Kong without a valid permit. The Customs and Excise Department would step up
enforcement action against illegal importation of pork.
The spokesman reiterated that public health and food safety remained the
Government's top priority and that it had already implemented the following
safety measures:
*The three-member Hong Kong medical team is now in Sichuan to understand the
situation on ground, and to obtain useful information on the epidemiology,
laboratory investigation and clinical management as well as to exchange views
with attending physicians regarding the treatment protocol. The team will remain
on the Mainland to further understand the epidemic situation.
*The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) has notified the Hospital Authority and
all doctors about the situation in Sichuan Province and reminded them to stay
vigilant and report to CHP any suspected cases. Information leaflets on
Stretococcus suis have also been provided to raise doctors' concern and increase
their understanding of the condition.
*The CHP has widely publicised the information on Streptococcus suis and
uploaded relevant information on the CHP's website
www.chp.gov.hk so as to
inform the public about the background and clinical features of the disease as
well as its prevention and management. Members of the public can also visit DH's
Hong Kong Travellers' Health Service website
www.travelhealth.gov.hk
for latest information on preventive measures.
*The FEHD has stepped up liaison with the Mainland inspection and quarantine
authorities to ensure all live pigs and pork imported from the Mainland into
Hong Kong are safe and hygienic.
*The FEHD has stepped up inspection and enforcement at the retail level against
improper handling of pork and other meat.
*The FEHD has issued letters to remind its frontline staff in animal control,
slaughterhouse workers, collectors of animal carcasses and food industry workers
to wear suitable protective clothing and observe personal hygiene. If they feel
unwell, they should stop working immediately, report to the management and
consult a doctor.
*The FEHD and AFCD have also stepped up laboratory tests on pigs produced
locally and imported from the Mainland.
*The AFCD has alerted pig farmers to monitor their own health condition and that
of their pigs. Farmers should report any outbreak of diseases or obvious
increase in the mortality rate of their pigs to the AFCD. Farmers should also
pay attention to their own health and cover any cut wound with bandage. Farmers
who fall ill should consult a doctor as soon as possible. The doctor may then
make report to the DH for follow-up as and when warranted.
Ends/Saturday, July 30, 2005
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