Press Release - March 18, 2003

The Director of Health of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR), Dr Margaret Chan, today (March 18) briefed more than 60 consuls general on the latest situation in Hong Kong about the investigation of cases of atypical pneumonia among local health care workers.

Dr Chan said the HKSAR Government has been working closely with the World Health Organisation (WHO), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention of the United States and local experts to identify the micro-organism responsible for the disease.

"We acknowledged that the incident has raised international concern but there is no cause for panic as no evidence to date suggested that the disease spreads through casual contact.

"Cases detected so far are limited to hospital staff taking care of specific patients and some close relatives and friends of these patients.

"The likely mode of transmission of the disease is respiratory droplets spread, and initial laboratory results have not found influenza virus or other agents," Dr Chan said.

Noting that Hong Kong has a highly effective disease surveillance system as well as high quality medical and public health services, Dr Chan assured the consuls general that Hong Kong is safe for local residents as well as visitors.

"The emergency travel advice issued by WHO on March 15 has not recommended people to restrict travel to any destination, including Hong Kong," Dr Chan stressed.

"We will continue to keep all sectors of the community and people visiting Hong Kong fully informed of the development," she added.

The HKSAR�s Permanent Secretary for Health, Welfare and Food, Mrs Carrie Yau, and the Chief of Influenza Division of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention of US, Dr Keiji Fukuda also attended the briefing.



For updated information and latest news on respiratory tract infections, please visit the special home page on the subject at www.info.gov.hk/info/infection-e.htm, and the HKSAR Department of Health website at www.info.gov.hk/dh/ap.htm as well as the e-bulletin at www.news.gov.hk/en/index.shtml.