In response to media enquiries on a media report on Hong Kong's stockpile of antiviral drugs for avian influenza, a spokesman for the Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health (DH) today (October 20) made the following statement:
The Government seeks to maintain a target level of about 20.5 million doses of antiviral drugs as part of its Preparedness Plan for Influenza Pandemic.
As a matter of fact, in view of outbreaks in the region, DH has started to increase its stockpile last year by placing order to procure two million doses of anti-viral drug.
We consulted the Legislative Council Panel on Health Services on the Preparedness Plan for Influenza Pandemic, and proposed to procure additional stockpile of antiviral in March 2005. The Finance Committee approved an additional $254 million to meet the costs of increasing the stockpile of antiviral in May 2005.
The current stockpile level of DH and the Hospital Authority (HA) is around 3.5 million doses and we will have an additional 4 million doses in early 2006. In view of the shelf-life of the drugs and the capacity of the pharmaceutical companies, the antiviral will be delivered to us in batches. We will continue to liaise with the pharmaceutical company for an early delivery of the antiviral drugs.
The Government has been proactively implementing measures outlined in the Preparedness Plan for Influenza Pandemic promulgated in early 2005 to prepare Hong Kong for such situation should it arise.
On antiviral stockpiling strategies, DH adopts the recommendations of the Scientific Committee on Emerging and Zoonotic Diseases (SCEZD). The stockpiling of antiviral drugs includes both oseltamivir (Tamiflu) and zanamivir (Relenza).
In addition, DH continues with the enhanced port health measures which include:
a. distributing health information leaflets at airline counters for passengers going to affected areas which include Indonesia, Cambodia, Vietnam, Thailand and Turkey;
b. broadcasting health messages on board for all in-bound flights from Indonesia, Cambodia, Vietnam, Thailand and Turkey;
c. temperature screening for in-bound travelers at Airport, enquire febrile travelers arriving from Indonesia, Cambodia, Vietnam, Thailand and Turkey about poultry and sick person contact;
d. informing potential travelers via Travel Health Service Website the progress of the avian influenza; and
e. alerting travel industry about avian flu situation and provide the industry with relevant health advice.
DH has been working closely with HA on infection control measures, including formulation of infection control guidelines and training of healthcare workers and carers.
At the community level, DH has conveyed messages of avian flu/pandemic influenza prevention via different channels, such as TV, radio, internet, outreach programmes, seminars and publicity materials.
The DH will continue to adopt an intersectoral and multidisciplinary approach to gear up community efforts, through responsive risk communication, to prepare for the influenza pandemic.
More than 10 forums have already been organized for different target groups including the government departments, general public, healthcare professionals, non-governmental organizations, Chinese Medicine Practitioners, social workers and community leaders/ business sectors with the aim of raising awareness and gearing up their efforts in preparedness. Health education materials have also been developed and uploaded to DH/CHP websites.
Ends/Thursday, October 20, 2005