In face of threat of avian flu, Hong Kong government is calling for a string of anti-bird flu action, and an interdepartmental meeting on such topic was held Wednesday.

"Good preparation and prevention can help avoid an outbreak. Preventive measures imposed by the government have been effective so far, but it is working to further tighten controls on the virus, " said Permanent Secretary for Health, Welfare and Food of Hong Kong Carrie Yau after the meeting.

At a press briefing, health chiefs of the government brought to members of public a message that Hong Kong cannot afford to be complacent over the avian flu threat, and like the government, the public should prepare for any possible outbreak by stepping up hygiene.

Yau said although the Mainland outbreak is worrying, there is no evidence yet of human-to-human transmission. However, to be cautious, she urged departments and agencies to identify room for improvement and fine-tune their plans in the light of the ever-changing situation.

"The underlying tenet is a population-based, cross-sectional approach vital for effective disease prevention," she said.

Since it is now the season that migratory birds come and stop over Hong Kong for hibernation, the city should be prepared that there might be wild birds found with avian flu virus.

On the monitoring of wild birds, Director of Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation of Hong Kong Thomas Chan said 7,000 bird samples and 493 dead birds have been tested and none were flu-positive.

Patrols have been enhanced to ensure that all local poultry farms have proper biosecurity measures in place to separate contacts with wild birds.

The department has also increased surveillance and monitoring of local chicken farms, and reminded farmers to immediately report the presence of sick and dead birds.

Besides, the Hong Kong Leisure and Cultural Services Department is closely watching its collection of 1,500 birds in Hong Kong's four major public parks.

Hong Kong's Center for Health Protection Controller Dr. Leung Pak-yin said washing hands and wearing masks are the most effective prevention measures in a flu pandemic.

He said when there are human cases of avian flu found in local, the center will enhance its surveillance of novel influenza virus, review surveillance criteria, and activate its information systems to monitor cases and contacts in real time.

Hong Kong Hospital Authority Deputy Director Dr. Liu Shao-haei said medical resources of the whole community will be mobilized in the event of an outbreak.

A patient transfer mechanism will be formed between hospitals in the public and private sectors, leaving more capacity for public hospitals to focus on handling an outbreak.

Regular drills are conducted and an on-the-spot drill will be held on Nov. 8 in two public hospitals simulating a scenario that pubic hospitals take over patients with avian flu.

This will allow medical staff at the front line to be familiar with the appropriate procedure when dealing with such cases.

Schools were reminded by the Hong Kong Education and Manpower Bureau to adopt precautionary measures to prevent the spread of flu in schools.

(Xinhua News Agency October 27, 2005)