Fever Checks At Hong Kong School – Credit HK Govt.
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While no cases of the newly emerging H7N9 virus have been detected in visitors to, or residents of, Hong Kong – local officials continue to take steps to enhance their surveillance and biosecurity against the disease.
Earlier this week, in Hong Kong: SFH On H7N9 Biosecurity & Surveillance, we looked at some of the efforts of the local health authorities.
Today, we’ve a statement by the Hong Kong Education Chief Eddie Ng Hak-kim on the the need for schools, and parents, to stay alert for signs of this virus.
If all of this seems a bit of an overreaction, one only need recall the terrible toll that SARS took on Hong Kong 10 years ago (see SARS And Remembrance). Between March 11th and June 6th of 2003, a total of 1750 cases were identified, and of those, 286 died.
Hong Kong’s respected Centre for Health Protection - which was created as a result of that epidemic - has a reputation for taking a strong, open, and proactive stance against all communicable disease threats.
First, the Hong Kong government’s press release, followed by a brief report from Xinhua News.
SED calls for health alert in schools (with photos/video)
The Secretary for Education (SED), Mr Eddie Ng Hak-kim, today (April 11) visited St Francis' Canossian School in Wan Chai to see for himself the implementation of precautionary measures against Influenza A (H7N9) in the school. He appealed to all schools in Hong Kong to stay vigilant and make every effort to prevent the spread of communicable diseases.
Accompanying the SED were the Under Secretary for Food and Health, Professor Sophia Chan, and the Assistant Director of Health (Health Promotion), Dr Regina Ching. They were briefed by the school management on its preventive works, such as raising the level of alertness and setting up a crisis management team to map out and co-ordinate various preventive measures against influenza.
These measures include strengthening home-school co-operation, under which parents undertake to check the body temperature of their children on a daily basis and the records are entered into the student handbooks. If the students are feeling unwell, they will seek medical consultation immediately and stay at home for adequate rest. For students arriving at the school, teachers will check their body temperature again on a random basis. Health education is also provided for the students to raise their health awareness. In addition, the school management has paid particular attention to the environmental hygiene of the school premises and stepped up cleanliness and disinfection works.
After the completion of the recent long holiday and the resumption of classes, the overall health condition of the students and the absenteeism records of the school remain at the normal level.
Mr Ng was pleased to note that all the schools in general had stepped up measures to guard against communicable diseases. He said, "The Government is very concerned about the risk posed by Influenza A (H7N9) and various bureaux and departments have maintained close liaison and strengthened preventive and control measures in all aspects.
"We have already provided the Guidelines on Prevention of Communicable Diseases for schools to guard against communicable diseases. The Guidelines could be downloaded from the Education Bureau (EDB) website for easy reference. Earlier on, we have also issued a letter to schools, together with the health advice given by the Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health (DH), to remind them to stay vigilant for the prevention of Influenza A (H7N9)."
He added that the EDB and the CHP would continue to join hands to provide schools with timely advice and guidelines on the prevention and control of communicable diseases.
To increase school personnel's understanding about Influenza A (H7N9) and Severe Respiratory Disease associated with Novel Coronavirus, the EDB in collaboration with the CHP will organise a number of health talks for schools in April and May. Healthcare staff from the DH will share their expertise on the prevention and control of communicable diseases. The first talk will be held on April 24 at CCC Heep Woh Primary School (Cheung Sha Wan).
Ends/Thursday, April 11, 2013
HK education chief alerts schools on H7N9
English.news.cn 2013-04-11 18:26:57
HONG KONG, April 11 (Xinhua) -- Hong Kong Secretary for Education Eddie Ng on Thursday urged all schools to stay vigilant to prevent the spread of communicable diseases, especially H7N9.
During a visit to a local school, Ng said the government is concerned about the H7N9 virus, and bureaus and departments have liaised closely on preventive and control measures.
“We have already provided the Guidelines on Prevention of Communicable Diseases for schools to guard against communicable diseases," Ng said, adding that the bureau has also issued a letter to schools, together with the Center for Health Protection' s advice, to remind them to stay vigilant.
He also said the bureau and the center would continue to provide schools with timely advice and guidelines, and will organize health talks for schools in April and May for healthcare staff to share their expertise on preventing and controlling communicable diseases.
The local school management briefed Ng on raised alertness and the crisis management team set up to coordinate measures including strengthened home-school cooperation, under which parents check their children's body temperature daily and record it in student handbooks.
Speaking to media after the visit, Ng said the government has established preventive measures at boundary control points, such as facilities to measure body temperature. There are also arrangements on coaches for cross-boundary students.
The measures for schools with students crossing the boundary is the same as that of local schools, including hand-washing procedures and encouraging students to measure their body temperature and not attend school if feeling unwell.
