Guangdong Province, Macao and Hong Kong health authorities have agreed to further strengthen mutual communication and cooperation in combating infectious diseases at a meeting concluded in Hong Kong on Friday.

 

The consensus was reached at the seventh tripartite meeting of Guangdong, Macao and Hong Kong on the Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases. The three parties will step up alertness in the prevention and control of dengue fever, AIDS, tuberculosis and plague.

 

Leading their delegations in the meeting were the Director of Health of Hong Kong Lam Ping-yan, Associated Director of the Department of Health of Guangdong Province Huang Fei and Director of the Health Bureau of Macao Koi Kuok-leng.

 

During the two-day meeting, they examined the situation and trend of major infectious diseases, including dengue fever, AIDS, tuberculosis, Legionnaires' Disease and seasonal influenza in the three places and exchanged experience in the preparedness for emerging diseases and new measures under the International Health Regulations.

 

They reviewed their work since the last tripartite meeting in June 2006, which included the progress in information exchange, the notification mechanism and cooperation in scientific research as well as exchange programs of medical professionals and the first joint exercise on emergency preparedness.

 

Participants were very satisfied that the joint exercise conducted last year had effectively tested the emergency preparedness plans of the three places, their coordination in the prevention and control of avian influenza. They said that the notification mechanism has been working smoothly, resulting in effective exchange of information on infectious diseases.

 

The eighth tripartite meeting would be held in Macao.

 

(Xinhua News Agency July 28, 2007)