Press Releases
Measures during mitigation phase
The Steering Committee of Influenza Pandemic during Emergency Response
Level, which is chaired by the Chief Executive, Mr Donald Tsang, had
endorsed a number of measures at their meeting today (May 29) for the
possible mitigation phase of human swine influenza pandemic, the Under
Secretary for Food and Health, Professor Gabriel Leung, said at a press
conference this afternoon.
Professor Leung said that if there was a local confirmed case of human swine
influenza that has no epidemiological link to an imported index case, it
would be the triggering point to signal that Hong Kong has entered the
mitigation phase.
With the guiding principle of protecting the health of young children and to
prevent large outbreaks in schools and generally in the community, classes
of all primary schools, kindergartens, nurseries and other pre-schools would
be suspended for up to 14 days when the first local case is confirmed.
Secondary schools and tertiary institutions would not be subjected to such a
policy; however, if any school is found to have a confirmed case of human
swine influenza, the school in question would be closed for 14 days,
Professor Leung added.
As the internal assessment results in the second term of Primary five (P5)
would be used for Secondary School Places Allocation purpose, schools and
parents have concern over the examination arrangements of P5 students. As
such, should the schools' internal examination be affected by the class
suspension, the Education Bureau would consider to make special arrangements
for conducting P5 second term examination on the advice of health
authorities.
"As the incubation period of influenza can be as long as seven days, a
14-day class suspension is based on the established public health basis of
twice the incubation period," Professor Leung explained.
Upon the first confirmed local indigenous human swine influenza case, the
Government would open seven designated flu clinics of the Hospital
Authority. Depending on the development of the disease and demand, the
Administration would further open up to 18 designated clinics.
Professor Leung noted that in the early mitigation period, medical
surveillance plus chemoprophylaxis would continue for close contacts. There
would be no tracing for social contacts, and no quarantine practice. In case
of further large-scale outbreak, Tamiflu would be reserved for high risk or
serious patients.
"Regardless of the phase of the epidemic, the Government would maintain the
existing port health measures, including health declaration on arrival and
infrared temperature screening, as a defense line against the disease,"
Professor Leung added.
Ends/Friday, May 29, 2009
Issued at HKT 21:42
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Estimated live pig supply
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The number of live pigs arriving at slaughterhouses today (May 28) was
4,165, with 3,974 imported from the Mainland and 191 from local farms. The
wholesale price for live pigs ranged from $700 to $1,039 per 100 catties,
with an average price of $835, a spokesman for the Food and Health Bureau
said.
According to the information provided by the Special Commissioner's Office
in Guangzhou, Ministry of Commerce, the estimated number of live pigs to be
imported from the Mainland for tomorrow (May 29) will be 3,800. There will
be a supply of some 100 live pigs from local farms tomorrow. The total
number of live pigs available for auction tomorrow will be about 3,900.
The spokesman added that announcing the estimated live pig supply for the
following day could enhance information flow and transparency of the market.
Members of the public and traders could better understand the overall supply
of live pigs.
Noting that the estimated figures only served as an indicator, the spokesman
said the actual supply should be adjusted in accordance with market demand.
Ends/Thursday, May 28, 2009
Issued at HKT 20:13
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