The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:
 
     The spokesperson of Queen Elizabeth Hospital (QEH) made the following announcement today (January 24):
 
     Five patients (aged 28 to 72) and three staff members of a male ward of the Department of Medicine in QEH have presented with upper respiratory tract infection symptoms since January 16. Clinical tests were arranged and the test results were positive for Influenza A. The patients are being treated under isolation. Two of the patients, aged 72 and 64, are in a critical and serious condition respectively, while the other three patients are in a stable condition. The staff members concerned are currently on leave.
 
     Regarding an earlier announcement on a cluster of patients infected with Influenza A in a female ward of the Department of Medicine in QEH, one more 58-year-old female patient in the ward has presented with upper respiratory tract infection symptoms. Clinical tests were arranged and the test result was positive for Influenza A. The patient is being treated under isolation and is in a stable condition.
 
     Infection control measures have already been stepped up according to established guidelines. All other patients in the wards are under close surveillance.
 
     The cases have been reported to Hospital Authority Head Office and the Centre for Health Protection for necessary follow-up.

The following is issued on behalf of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority:

     The Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) wishes to alert members of the public to a press release issued by Hong Leong Bank Berhad on phishing email, which has been reported to the HKMA. Hyperlink to the press release is available on the HKMA website for ease of reference by members of the public.
 
     Anyone who has provided his or her personal information to the email concerned or has conducted any financial transactions through the email should contact the bank concerned using the contact information provided in the press release, and report to the Police or contact the Cyber Security and Technology Crime Bureau of the Hong Kong Police Force at 2860 5012.

     The "Let's Move 2019" Carnival and the Launching Ceremony of the School Sports Programme (Special Schools), both organised by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD), were held at Kowloon Park Sports Centre today (January 24). About 600 students, teachers and accompanying carers from 16 special schools viewed sports demonstrations and joined participation activities to share the fun of sports at the events.
      
      The LCSD has implemented the School Sports Programme since 2001 to enable students of primary, secondary and special schools to participate in diverse sports activities during their after-school leisure time. The "Let's Move 2019" Carnival was the first large-scale joint school event exclusively organised for special schools' students under the Programme.
      
     The Convener of the Student Sports Activities Co-ordinating Sub-committee, Professor Patrick Yung, said at the ceremony, "The LCSD allocated additional resources last year to provide a new School Sports Programme (Special Schools) in collaboration with the Hong Kong Special Schools Council, the Hong Kong Sports Association for Persons with Intellectual Disability and the Hong Kong Paralympic Committee and Sports Association for the Physically Disabled. Under the new trial Programme, a series of sports activities has been designed for students with intellectual disability, visual impairment, hearing impairment and physical disability."
      
     Professor Yung said the new Programme is tailor made to meet the needs of special school students, noting that factors including the operation and environment of special schools as well as the capabilities of the students have been taken into consideration when deciding on the content, progress and arrangements of the activities. Proper equipment will also be provided to assist students taking part. 
      
     Through the efforts of various government departments, schools, parents and sports associations, more than 100 sports activities with the participation of over 5 000 students from 42 special schools have been organised in the past six months under the new Programme. In total 14 types of sports activities were introduced, including fitness exercise, stretching exercise, snowshoeing and different ball games. By participating in the Programme, the students can enhance their physical and mental health, as well as develop their potential, perseverance and self-confidence, achieving the objective of integration of persons with disabilities and the able-bodied in the community.
      
     Students from 16 special schools (including schools for intellectual disability, physical disability and hearing impairment) took part in the Carnival today. Various kinds of sports activities suitable for special school students were offered, including floor hockey, bocce and physical fitness. Demonstrations and sharing sessions by Special Olympic Table Tennis Hong Kong Team members were also held. Students also had opportunities to experience activities like windsurfing, basketball, baseball, rugby and table football during the interesting sports participation sessions.
      
     Co-organised by various national sports associations (NSAs), the School Sports Programme (Special Schools) is conducted in line with the schools' operation so that students can learn more about the different types of sports. The LCSD will continue to strengthen the liaison with special schools and relevant NSAs with a view to further enhancing the content of the School Sports Programme implemented in special schools.

     Other officiating guests at today's ceremony were the Chairperson of the Hong Kong Special Schools Council, Ms Shum Siu-fong; the Chief Leisure Manager (Sports Development) of the LCSD, Mr Siu Yau-kwong; the Chief Curriculum Development Officer (Special Educational Needs) of the Education Bureau, Ms Ivy Wong; the Senior Medical and Health Officer (Health Promotion) of the Department of Health, Dr Amen So; the Executive Director of the Hong Kong Paralympic Committee and Sports Association for the Physically Disabled, Ms Lesley Fung; and the Executive Director of the Hong Kong Sports Association for Persons with Intellectual Disability, Dr Allison Wong.
      
     For details of the School Sports Programme (Special Schools), please visit www.lcsd.gov.hk/en/ssp/special_school_info/special_school.html.

        

     The Centre for Health Protection of the Department of Health today (January 24) reported that the suspected case of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) pending results yesterday (January 23), upon preliminary testing, tested negative for MERS Coronavirus.

     The inter-departmental Pest Control Steering Committee held its first meeting of this year today (January 24) to discuss how to improve the Government's overall surveillance and response mechanism and to map out the focus of pest control work and the work plan for this year. It set objectives in three areas: strengthening prevention, co-ordination and surveillance.
 
     The Under Secretary for Food and Health, Dr Chui Tak-yi, who chaired the meeting, said, "The Steering Committee has met early this year to plan ahead for the overall deployment and formulate strategies for pest control work throughout the year with an aim to facilitate early commencement of mosquito and rodent control work in a systematic manner under the respective purviews of different bureaux and departments."
 
     Consolidating experiences from last year, the Government is of the view that early prevention is the most effective approach to pest control. The Government will commence and strengthen targeted operations to prevent mosquito breeding before the rainy season. Once the rainy season arrives, staff will be mobilised to conduct fogging operations to eliminate adult mosquitoes. The Government will collaborate with the District Councils and local communities to avoid massive mosquito breeding after the rainy season.
 
     Under the co-ordination of the Steering Committee, a number of departments have been allocated additional resources to enhance pest control work. The Steering Committee has also requested the departments to include standard pest control terms when entering into new cleaning service contracts to better monitor the contractors' performance and effectiveness in pest control work.
 
     In order to facilitate implementation of effective prevention and control measures under the purview of different departments as well as to enhance co-ordination and effectiveness, the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) provided suggestions and guidelines on pest control work to other departments at the meeting and will continue to offer technical support.
 
     To address rodent problems, the Government will adopt a multi-pronged approach to strengthen cleaning, rodent disinfestation and enforcement. The Housing Department, together with the FEHD, is conducting a three-month anti-rodent operation in target areas in two public housing estates on a trial basis to enhance the effectiveness of anti-rodent work.
 
     The Steering Committee agreed to increase the number of survey areas of dengue fever vectors and rodent infestation. As for surveillance on dengue fever vectors, there are currently 57 survey areas (with about 3 200 ovitraps) in the territory. Four additional survey areas (with about 150 additional ovitraps) will be put in place this year to further monitor the activity of Aedes albopictus. As for surveillance on rodent infestation, the number of survey areas will be increased from 41 (around 2 300 baiting points) to 50 (around 2 650 baiting points). The Government will take into account factors like residential areas, areas with previous occurrence of local dengue fever cases and places prone to rodent infestation, as well as district feedback, in deciding on the locations of the additional survey areas.
 
     As regards application of technology for mosquito and rodent disinfestation, the FEHD is proactively exploring the feasibility of applying various techniques in Hong Kong and conducting relevant tests. Progress of its work was reported to other departments during the meeting. If applicable to the local environment, the FEHD will liaise with the relevant departments to further improve the surveillance systems of mosquito and rodent infestation so as to enhance responding strategies and the effectiveness of prevention and control work.
 
     Apart from the above, the Steering Committee noted that the species of biting midges found in Hong Kong are not disease vectors. However, relevant departments will formulate targeted measures taking into account biting midges' habits as well as seasonal and geographical features to abate nuisance caused by biting midges. Those measures will be carried out at places where biting midges are active, such as parks, to minimise breeding of biting midges.
 
     Dr Chui said, "Pest control should start from home and the neighbourhood. Apart from the strengthened measures carried out by government departments, we encourage the District Councils and local communities to actively participate in and co-operate with the work of the Government. Members of the public should also maintain personal and environmental hygiene."
 
     Representatives from three bureaux, 19 departments and one organisation attended today's meeting.