Press Releases
SFH on hand, foot and mouth disease
Following is the transcript of remarks (English portion) made by the
Secretary for Food and Health, Dr York Chow, at a media stand-up session in
the Legislative Council Building today (June 8):
Reporter: The number of institutional outbreaks of hand, foot and mouth
disease has been more than 300. Do you think the Government is doing enough
to contain the outbreak? How concerned are you?
Secretary for Food and Health: We are of course really concerned about this
peak period of hand, foot and month disease. As explained by Dr Thomas
Tsang, we are reaching the peak of the season. We have already briefed
operators of the kindergartens and child care centres and so on in March and
April, and also informed all medical practitioners about the potential
increase of cases this year. But as you see that the number of cases will be
oscillating at a high level in the coming weeks until perhaps the end of the
school term, i.e. close to the beginning of July, this is something that our
citizens need to take good care of themselves and also their children,
particularly in personal hygiene because the diseases are transmitted by
droplets as well as by contact.
Reporter: Would you extend the school holidays since lots of the schools are
being affected?
Secretary for Food and Health: The Centre for Health Protection will look at
each individual school to see the extent of the outbreak to decide whether
they need to advise these schools to suspend classes for two weeks. If many
schools are required for such changes and the escalation of numbers of the
cases is beyond a certain level, of course we have to look at something more
drastic. But this is something to be decided by the Centre for Health
Protection.
Reporter: (on the seriousness of EV infection and hand, foot and mouth
disease)
Secretary for Food and Health: This peak period of the enterovirus infection
would perhaps last only for a month or so. It should not last like influenza
for many months. This is the usual trend of hand, foot and mouth disease.
This is a cycle of a peak of this infection in Hong Kong and also in this
particular region.
Reporter: Did it come earlier than expected?
Secretary for Food and Health: Not really. Most of the time, this disease
comes in early summer. So this is actually the usual time.
Reporter: Any advice to people?
Secretary for Food and Health: My advice to people is to ensure they look
after themselves well. If they have children in the family, make sure that
when they have infection, go to see a doctor and keep them at home, separate
them from other children, and do not go to school or the kindergarten.
(Please also refer to the
Chinese portion of the transcript)
Ends/Tuesday, June 8, 2010
Issued at HKT 18:45
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