The Department of Health announced Wednesday it assembled a team of four Hong Kong experts to assist Vietnamese doctors with the clinical aspects of human avian influenza treatment.

At the request of the Vietnamese Ministry of Health, the department has arranged with the University of Hong Kong, the Chinese University of Hong Kong and the Hospital Authority for the clinical team to leave for Hanoi, capital of Vietnam, Thursday, a department spokesman said.

In Hanoi, the team will provide support in establishing clinical protocols for the triage of patients admitted to hospital; management of patients with influenza-like illness or community-acquired pneumonia; development of diagnostic algorithms for influenza-like illnesses; specific hospital treatment protocols for suspected and confirmed H5N1 patients; and training in influenza infection control measures.

Their activities will include visits to major hospitals in Hanoi, lectures, training sessions and ward rounds.

The team will be led by the Department of Health honorary consultant, Professor Yuen Kwok-yung of the University of Hong Kong. Other members are Professor David Hui of the Chinese University of Hong Kong, and Dr. Chu Chung-ming and Dr. Ng Yiu-ki of the Hospital Authority.

(Xinhua News Agency  February 5, 2004)