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Guangdong, Macao and Hong Kong health authorities have agreed to further strengthen mutual communication and co-operation in combating infectious diseases, including stepping up alertness in the prevention and control of dengue fever and other mosquito-borne diseases, enterovirus infection and measles.
The consensus was reached at the Tenth Tripartite Meeting of Guangdong, Macao and Hong Kong on the Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases held in Hong Kong yesterday and today (January 11 and 12).
During the two-day meeting, public health and medical experts of the three places reviewed their collaboration in the surveillance, prevention and control of infectious diseases and the notification system.
They also engaged in comprehensive and in-depth discussions and experience-sharing on dealing with communicable diseases, particularly dengue fever and other mosquito-borne diseases, prevention and control of influenza, the situation concerning enterovirus infection, communicable disease information systems and progress on measles elimination.
The meeting also reviewed the situation regarding prevention and control of Influenza A (H1N1) (Human Swine Influenza (HSI)) in the three places since the signing of the memorandum of understanding on co-operation of H1N1 prevention and treatment in 2009. Members discussed in detail the trend of influenza infection, their relative experience in the implementation of influenza vaccination programmes and the way forward for a preparedness plan for influenza pandemic.
After thorough discussion, consensus on the following subjects was reached:
* to continue strengthening the response system for public health incidents and major infectious diseases by implementing thoroughly the agreement on co-operation on emergency public health incidents in the three places;
* to continue refining the notification system;
* to continue enhancing communication and co-operation in preparedness for influenza pandemic to reduce the health, social and economic impacts on the three places caused by Influenza A (H1N1)(HSI);
* to continue co-operation in the exchange and training of health care professionals in disease surveillance and outbreak investigations, field epidemiology, contingency management, laboratory tests and infection control; and
* to foster co-operation in scientific research on infectious diseases, including enterovirus infection, mosquito-borne diseases and measles elimination.
Members agreed that the Department of Health Bureau of Macao would organise the eleventh tripartite meeting.
Participating in the meeting were the Associate Director of the Department of Health of Guangdong Province, Mr Huang Fei; the Director of the Health Bureau of Macao, Dr Lei Chin Ion; the Director of Health of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, Dr P Y Lam, and about 60 experts on infectious diseases from the three places.
Ends/Wednesday, January 12, 2011
Issued at HKT 19:07
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