The Government expresses regrets and disappointment over the failure of passing the relaxation of the internship requirement of the non-locally trained specialist doctors by the Medical Council of Hong Kong (MCHK) at its meeting today (April 3).

     "To alleviate the manpower shortage condition in the public healthcare sector, the Government has been striving to strengthen medical workforce on various fronts.  Apart from substantially increasing the University Grants Committee-funded medical training places, the Government has also endeavoured to attract more eligible non-locally trained doctors to serve in the public sector in Hong Kong.  For instance, upon commencement of the Medical Registration (Amendment) Ordinance 2018, the validity period and renewal period of limited registration have been extended from not exceeding one year to not exceeding three years.  The Government will continue to explore and implement various practicable options to tackle the doctors' manpower shortage problem," a government spokesman said.

     The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health (DH) is today (April 3) investigating four additional cases of measles infection of which two are workers at Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA), one is healthcare worker and one is epidemiologically linked to a confirmed case announced earlier on.

​     The first case involves a 45-year-old woman with good past health, who developed headache and myalgia since March 31, fever and rash since April 1 and cough since April 2. She sought medical attention at the Accident and Emergency Department (AED) at North Lantau Hospital (NLH) on April 1, and was transferred to Princess Margaret Hospital (PMH) for admission and treatment on the same day. A laboratory test of her respiratory specimen was positive for the measles virus. She has been in a stable condition with unknown vaccination history. She had no travel history during the incubation period or the communicable period.

     The second case involves a 31-year-old man with good past health, who developed fever, headache and myalgia since March 26 and rash since March 30. He attended Out-patient Clinic at St Teresa's Hospital on March 30 and April 1. He sought medical attention at the AED at NLH on April 2 and was transferred to PMH for admission and treatment on the same day. A laboratory test of his respiratory specimen was positive for the measles virus. He has been in a stable condition. He reported to have measles vaccination. He had travelled to Cambodia during the incubation period and the communicable period.
    
     The third case involves a 27-year-old man with good past health, who developed cough and headache since March 27 and rash since March 31. He sought medical attention at the AED at Prince of Wales Hospital on April 1 and was admitted for treatment. A laboratory test of his respiratory specimen was positive for the measles virus. He has been in a stable condition with unknown vaccination history. He had no travel history during the incubation period and the communicable period.

    According to the first two patients, they did not have contact with measles patients during the incubation period. Their home contacts have remained asymptomatic so far and have been put under medical surveillance. For the third case, he is the father of a previously confirmed case (8-month-old baby boy) announced on March 27.
 
     The fourth case involves a 23-year-old healthcare worker with good past health, who developed fever and rash since April 1. He consulted a general practitioner (GP) on March 30 and another GP on April 1. He then sought medical attention at the AED at PMH on the same day and was admitted for treatment. A laboratory test of his respiratory specimen was positive for the measles virus. He has been in a stable condition. He had received two doses of measles vaccination and had no travel history during the incubation period or the communicable period. His home contacts have remained asymptomatic so far and have been put under medical surveillance. The CHP will work closely with Hospital Authority on the source investigation and contact tracing.

​     Upon notification of the cases, the CHP immediately commenced epidemiological investigations and conducted relevant contact tracing, including the crew member and passengers of the relevant cabin of the concerned flight. Initial investigations revealed that no contact has shown measles-related symptoms so far. Investigations are ongoing. The public places the patients visited during the communicable period are listed in the appendix.

     "The incubation period (the period from infection to appearance of illness) of measles ranges from seven days to 21 days. Members of the general public who have visited the public places listed in the appendix during the period should observe if they develop relevant symptoms, such as fever, skin rash, cough, runny nose and red eyes in seven to 21 days (the medical surveillance period). If symptoms arise, they should wear surgical masks, stop going to work or school and avoid going to crowded places. They should also avoid contact with non-immune persons, especially persons with weakened immunity, pregnant women and children aged below 1. Those suspected to have been infected are advised to seek medical attention as early as possible and reveal relevant contact history of measles to healthcare professionals," a spokesman for the DH said.

     Upon confirmation of measles outbreak, the DH has implemented control measures at the airport including vaccination and blood testing services. A total of 118 persons received measles vaccination at the vaccination stations as at 5pm today, bringing the cumulative number of vaccinations given to 7,770. A hotline (2125 1122) has been set up for public enquiries and operates from 9am to 5.45pm daily. As of 5pm today, the hotline had received a total of 2,728 enquiries. Nine blood samples have been collected today. The DH will notify the participants individually of the serology results.

     The vaccination quota for the measles vaccination stations at the airport is set at 500 doses daily. Eligible airport staff will be limited to the following target groups:

(1) Born in or after 1967, and have not received two doses of measles vaccination, and have not been infected with measles before, and with evidence of living with infants under 1 year old or living with pregnant women; or

(2) Have laboratory evidence of testing not positive against measles antibody (IgG).

     Details of evidence are as follows:

(a) Supporting documents for living with infants under 1-year-old: for example birth certificate, discharge summary or vaccination card of the infant
(b) Supporting documents for living with pregnant women: for example, positive pregnancy tests or antenatal follow-up cards of the pregnant women
(c) Supporting documents for laboratory evidence: for example blood results from the DH's measles serology test or any laboratory within the past 12 months

     The vaccination arrangements at the airport vaccination stations tomorrow are as follows:
 

   
     In addition, the DH will continue with the provision of a measles serology test service for airport staff belonging to target group (1) to identify those who need measles vaccination. Tomorrow's blood test service will be able to provide to around 100 airport staff. 

      The venue and operation hours of the airport blood test station tomorrow are as follows:
     

     The Financial Secretary, Mr Paul Chan, this afternoon (April 3) visited Central and Western District, where he met with start-ups in the district and toured community facilities.

     Accompanied by the Chairman of the Central and Western District Council (C&WDC), Mr David Yip, and the District Officer (Central and Western), Mrs Susanne Wong, Mr Chan first visited a co-working space in the district and exchanged views with young entrepreneurs operating social enterprises to understand their operations and experiences in achieving social objectives through cross-sector collaboration.
 
     Mr Chan then walked along the Central and Western District Promenade. He said the Government is committed to making Hong Kong a more ideal place for living, including adopting a forward-looking approach in pursuing harbourfront enhancement and vigorously seeking to open up continuous and accessible harbourfront promenades, so as to make the harbourfront more vibrant. Harbourfront enhancement projects funded by a $500 million allocation in early 2017 have been rolled out one by one. A further $6 billion was earmarked in this year's Budget for developing new harbourfront promenades and open space as well as improving harbourfront facilities. It is the Government's plan to extend the length of the harbourfront promenades from the current 20-odd kilometres to 34 kilometres in about 10 years, and provide 35 hectares of open space on both sides of the Victoria Harbour.
 
     Mr Chan also chatted with members of a district youth network at the Promenade. He welcomed suggestions from young people on how to improve district facilities, and said that the Government aims at developing a diversified economy to create more opportunities for young people.
 
     Before concluding the visit, Mr Chan met with members of the C&WDC to exchange views on various livelihood and development issues of the district.

          

     The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health today (April 3) reported a suspected case of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS), and again urged the public to pay special attention to safety during travel, taking due consideration of the health risks in the places they visit. The case is detailed below:
 

     "Travellers to the Middle East should avoid going to farms, barns or markets with camels; avoid contact with sick persons and animals, especially camels, birds or poultry; and avoid unnecessary visits to healthcare facilities. We strongly advise travel agents organising tours to the Middle East to abstain from arranging camel rides and activities involving direct contact with camels, which are known risk factors for acquiring MERS Coronavirus (MERS-CoV)," a spokesman for the CHP said.

     Locally, the CHP's surveillance with public and private hospitals, with practising doctors and at boundary control points is firmly in place. Inbound travellers and members of the public who recently visited the Middle East and developed fever or lower respiratory symptoms within 14 days will be classified as suspected MERS cases. They will be taken to public hospitals for isolation and management until their specimens test negative for MERS-CoV.

     Travellers to affected areas should maintain vigilance, adopt appropriate health precautions and take heed of personal, food and environmental hygiene. The public may visit the MERS pages of the CHP and its Travel Health Service, MERS statistics in affected areas, the CHP's Facebook Page and YouTube Channel, and the World Health Organization's latest news for more information and health advice. Tour leaders and tour guides operating overseas tours are advised to refer to the CHP's health advice on MERS. 

     The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health is today (April 3) investigating an influenza A outbreak at a kindergarten in Yuen Long, and again reminded the public to maintain strict personal and environmental hygiene against influenza.

     The outbreak involves 12 boys and eight girls aged 3 to 5 who have developed fever, cough and runny nose since February 25. All sought medical attention. Among them, one required hospitalisation and has been discharged upon treatment. All patients are in a stable condition. The nasopharyngeal swab of one student tested positive for influenza A upon laboratory testing.

     Officers of the CHP have conducted a site visit and advised the school to adopt necessary infection control measures against respiratory tract infections. The school has been placed under medical surveillance.

     A spokesman for the CHP said, "To prevent outbreaks of influenza and other respiratory infections, it is of prime importance that students with fever, regardless of the presence of respiratory symptoms, should not be allowed to attend school. They should seek medical advice and avoid school till 48 hours after the fever has subsided. Schools should also measure and record students' body temperature properly."

     Schools are reminded to follow the Guidelines on Prevention of Communicable Diseases on preventive and control measures as well as management of outbreaks, which should be reported to the CHP for prompt follow-up.

     "The latest surveillance data showed that the local influenza activity has further decreased to a level approaching the baseline. We urge the community to continue heightening its vigilance against seasonal influenza. As young children are particularly affected in this influenza season, we appeal to parents who have not yet arranged vaccination for their children in this season to do so as soon as possible to strengthen their personal protection," the spokesman said.

     Apart from children, people aged 50 to 64 years, the elderly and those with underlying illnesses who have not yet received influenza vaccination this season are also urged to get vaccinated as early as possible to prevent seasonal influenza as it takes about two weeks for antibodies to develop in the body after vaccination. Medical advice should be sought promptly if influenza-like symptoms develop so that appropriate treatment can be initiated as early as possible to prevent potential complications. Parents and carers are reminded to render assistance in prevention, care and control for vulnerable people.

     Besides receiving seasonal influenza vaccination as early as possible for personal protection, the public should maintain good personal and environmental hygiene for protection against influenza and other respiratory illnesses. For more information, please visit the CHP's influenza page and weekly Flu Express.