Tag Archives: China

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Public urged to continue their vigilance against influenza as school will soon resume after LNY holiday

     The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health (DH) today (February 8) urged schools, parents and students to continue to heighten vigilance and to adopt strict personal and environmental hygiene to prevent the spread of seasonal influenza in schools as social contacts among students in schools will increase when school soon resumes after the Lunar New Year holiday.

     A spokesman for the CHP said, “As schools are collective assembly places, infectious diseases including influenza could be easily spread among people through their daily contacts. In view of this, we will issue letters to schools, kindergartens and child care centres again today to remind them on continued vigilance and reinforcement of preventive measures when school resumes to mitigate the impact of influenza.”

     To prevent outbreaks of influenza and other respiratory infections, it is of prime importance that children with fever, regardless of the presence of respiratory symptoms, should not be allowed to attend school. They should seek medical advice and avoid school till 48 hours after the fever has subsided. During the influenza season, schools should actively check the body temperature of all students every day when they arrive at school so as to identify students with fever. Schools should also follow the Guidelines on Prevention of Communicable Diseases on preventive and control measures as well as management of outbreaks. If an outbreak is suspected, schools should immediately report it to the CHP for prompt follow-up.

     The spokesman said, “According to the latest surveillance data of the CHP, the local influenza activity has continued to decrease from the peak level recorded during January 13 to 26. This winter influenza season in Hong Kong is expected to last for some time.”

     The percentage that tested positive for seasonal influenza viruses among the respiratory specimens received by the CHP’s Public Health Laboratory Services Branch has further decreased from 25.89 per cent in the week ending January 26 to 20.06 per cent in that ending February 2.

     The CHP has also recorded a significant drop in institutional influenza-like illness outbreaks, from the peak of 211 cases (affecting 1,010 persons) in the week ending January 26 to 31 cases (affecting 127 persons) in that ending February 2.

     Meanwhile, the overall admission rate with principal diagnosis of influenza in public hospitals further decreased from 1.33 to 0.77 cases per 10,000 of the population from the week ending January 26 to that ending February 2. Among children aged below 6, the rate went down from 8.10 to 4.36 cases per 10,000 of the population in the corresponding period.

     As for children (aged under 18), 21 severe cases (including one death) were reported this year as of February 7. Among the cases, 16 (about 76 per cent) did not receive seasonal influenza vaccination (SIV) for the current season.

     The CHP once again appealed to parents who have not yet arranged SIV for their children in this season to do so as early as possible to strengthen their personal protection.

     The public should also maintain good personal and environmental hygiene for protection against influenza and other respiratory illnesses:
 

  • Wash hands with liquid soap and water properly whenever possibly contaminated;
  • When hands are not visibly soiled, clean them with 70-80 per cent alcohol-based handrub as an effective alternative;
  • Cover the nose and mouth while sneezing or coughing and wash hands thoroughly afterwards;
  • Dispose of soiled tissue paper properly in a lidded rubbish bin;
  • Put on a surgical mask when respiratory symptoms develop;
  • Maintain good indoor ventilation;
  • When influenza is prevalent, avoid going to crowded or poorly ventilated public places; high-risk individuals may consider putting on surgical masks in such places; and
  • Maintain a balanced diet, exercise regularly, take adequate rest, do not smoke and avoid overstress.

     For the latest information on influenza activity, please visit the CHP’s influenza page and weekly Flu Express. read more

East Asia

Appointments to Human Organ Transplant Board

     â€‹The Government today (February 8) announced the appointments of Miss Sandy Wong Hang-yee and Dr Mark Li Kin-yin as the Chairman and the Vice-Chairman of the Human Organ Transplant Board respectively.     
      
     At the same time, four serving panel members of the Board have been appointed as substantive members, and seven new panel members have been appointed.
      
     All appointments will take effect from February 15, 2019, for a term of three years. Details are as follows:
 
Appointments of serving panel members as substantive members
————————————————————————-
Dr Chan Ka-lai
Ms Samantha Ko Kit-mui
Dr Raymond Lo See-kit
Ms Priscilla Wong Wai-yee
 
Appointments of new panel members
—————————————–
Dr Chan Kwok-ki
Miss Louisa Chu Wai-san
Dr Joan Fok Pui-chu
Mr Jason Joseph Lee Kwong-yee
Mr Lee Wing-fung
Dr Grace Lui Chung-yan
Dr Joyce Tang Shao-fen
 
     The Secretary for Food and Health, Professor Sophia Chan, welcomed the new members. She also expressed gratitude to the outgoing Chairman, Miss Ophelia Chan Chiu-ling; three other substantive members, Mr Hui Ching-on, Dr Kwok Tin-fook and Dr Poon Tak-lun; as well as three panel members, Mr William Chan Wing-lim, Dr Chow Sin-ming and Dr Karen Shum Hau-yan, for their invaluable contributions to and unfailing support for the Board in the past.
      
     Established under section 3 of the Human Organ Transplant Ordinance, the Board is tasked to consider applications made for the Board’s prior written approval to carry out restricted organ removal and/or restricted organ transplant, to receive prescribed information about transplant operations and certificates accompanying imported organs and to perform any other functions that the Board is required or permitted to perform under the Ordinance.
      
     Under section 3A of the Ordinance, the Board consists of nine substantive members and 14 panel members from the medical, social work, legal and non-medical sectors. 
      
     The membership of the Board with effect from February 15, 2019, is as follows:
 
Substantive members:
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Miss Sandy Wong Hang-yee (Chairman)
Dr Mark Li Kin-yin (Vice-Chairman)
Mr Nicholas Chan Hiu-fung
Dr Chan Ka-lai
Ms Samantha Ko Kit-mui
Dr Raymond Lo See-kit
Dr Gene Tsoi Wai-wang
Ms Priscilla Wong Wai-yee
Dr Josephine Grace Wong Wing-san
 
Panel members:
——————
Dr Chan Kwok-ki
Mr Vincent Chin
Miss Louisa Chu Wai-san
Dr Joan Fok Pui-chu
Mr Jason Joseph Lee Kwong-yee
Mr Lee Wing-fung
Dr Li Chak-ho
Dr Emmy Li Yuen-mei
Dr Grace Lui Chung-yan
Mr Mui Wai-keung
Dr Stanley Tam Kui-fu
Dr Joyce Tang Shao-fen
Mr Wong Tim-wai
Dr Thomas Yau Chung-cheung read more

East Asia

Members of the public invited to Community Care Fund public consultation sessions

The following is issued on behalf of the Community Care Fund Secretariat:
 
     The Community Care Fund (CCF) will hold four public consultation sessions between February and April to gauge public views on the formulation of assistance programmes. Members of the public are welcome to attend.
      
     Those who would like to attend the consultation sessions may call the CCF Secretariat at 2835 2279 during office hours (from 8.45am to 1pm and from 2pm to 6pm, Mondays to Fridays) or complete the online registration form at the CCF’s website (www.communitycarefund.hk/en/form.asp) for seat reservation. Seats are available on a first-come, first-served basis.
      
     Details of the four public consultation sessions are as follows:
 
Date: February 21 (Thursday)
Time: 7pm to 8.30pm
Venue: Mei Foo Community Hall,
           1/F, Mei Foo Government Complex,
           33 Mei Lai Road,
           Sham Shui Po, Kowloon
           (MTR Mei Foo Station, Exit B)
 
Date: March 23 (Saturday)
Time: 5pm to 6.30pm
Venue: Aldrich Bay Community Hall,
           G/F, Oi Po House, Oi Tung Estate,
           Shau Kei Wan, Hong Kong
           (MTR Sai Wan Ho Station, Exit A)
 
Date: March 29 (Friday)
Time: 7pm to 8.30pm
Venue: Hall, 1/F, Tai Po Community Centre,
           2 Heung Sze Wui Street, Tai Po,
           New Territories
           (MTR Tai Po Market Station, Exit A2)

Date: April 6 (Saturday)
Time: 5pm to 6.30pm
Venue: Hall, G/F, Tin Yiu Community Centre,
           Tin Yiu Estate, Tin Shui Wai,
           New Territories
           (MTR Tin Shui Wai Station, Exit C)
  read more

East Asia