Yu-Leuk Choi, professor of the Civil Engineering Department of University of Hong Kong, claimed that architectural structure may have an impact on spreading of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS).

He said that one fourth of SARS patients in Hong Kong are medical staff and in the early stages of the SARS outbreak in HK, most of the infected doctors and nurses are those from the Prince of Wales Hospital.

He said apart from the prevention measures, the environment of hospital wards is also a problem.

A study indicated that the directions of air current in a hospital may produce infection risks at different levels in different corners of a ward. The design of air conditioning system of a hospital might also have an impact on the cross-infection of various wards, he said.

He said, in Amoy Garden, where over 300 SARS cases were reported, most of them reside in the same direction of Building E. Researchers from his university suggested that the moist atmosphere discharged from the bathrooms could go up several meters through ventilation opening and enter the windows of upper floors.

The other possibility is that the virus polluted the garbage in the courtyard and then insects spread the virus in the building, he added.

Architectural engineering experts in Hong Kong are engaged in revising of architectural designs of new residential buildings to avoid the shortcomings of the present buildings.

Alice Pone, deputy chairwoman of the Association of Hong Kong Health Care Professionals, said as general manager of the nursing department of Queen Elizabeth Hospital, she led nursing work of she hospital.

She believed that the crowded hospital beds in a ward may help spread the virus. She suggested the further study on ventilation of hospital wards and rational arrangement of hospital beds.

She said Hong Kong Chief Executive Tung Chee Hwa stressed the importance of zero infection of medical staff and an overall study of the hospital environment is needed.

Laurie Wan, president of Environmental Holdings Limited, was worried about the ways of the disposal of medical waste.

He said Hong Kong now buries medical waste containing severe acute respiratory syndrome (SATS) virus without any anti-infection process. He said the SARS virus may possibly penetrate into the surrounding soil and pollute the soil and water sources.

He said sewage with SARS virus was not disinfected in the sewage disposal systems and discharged into the sea directly.

The environment expert warns that the polluted sea water may pollute aquatic products and beach. The pollution may also become the source of next round of SARS, he said.

Participants of the meeting also confirmed the active role of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region government and welcomed the central government's decision to send protective gowns, masks and goggles to Hong Kong.

Peter Chua, president of the Association of Hong Kong Health Care Professionals, said the first batch of goods is expected to arrive in Hong Kong in three days.

(China Daily May 4, 2003)