Press Release - April 25, 2003

A team of seven World Health Organisation experts will arrive in Hong Kong from Canada and Australia this week to study the possible environmental transmission of atypical pneumonia.

Deputy Director of Health of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR), Dr PY Leung, said they will stay for three weeks and target several buildings, including Amoy Gardens, for focused study

The visiting WHO's Senior Adviser Dr William Cocksedge said the move is to supplement and follow up on studies and investigations already being conducted in Hong Kong. He said Hong Kong has done an excellent job.

On the possibility of withdrawing the WHO travel warning, Dr Leung said that will be determined by several factors: stability of virus cases; and, effectiveness of preventive/detective/monitoring measures against the virus spread.

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.