HK, Macao, Guangdong step up to tackle infectious diseases

Key officials and experts from south China's Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao have agreed to step up cooperation to tackle the spread of infectious diseases, according to Hong Kong government website on Friday.

Consensus in this regard was reached at a two-day meeting, the Ninth Tripartite Meeting of Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao on the Prevention and Control of Communicable Diseases, which ended in Zhuhai, Mainland on Friday.

Members discussed in detail contingency plans for public health emergencies such as outbreaks of influenza A/H1N1 and other major infectious diseases.

Members signed a memorandum of understanding on cooperation on A/H1N1 flu prevention and finalized the membership list of an expert team on prevention and treatment of the new flu type which comprised experts from the Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao in the fields of clinical, epidemiology and laboratory tests. The new team constituted a co-operation mechanism for prevention and control of the new flu.

They also had in-depth discussions on a number of public health issues of mutual concern including preparedness for A/H1N1 flu, latest developments in respect of infectious diseases, surveillance and control of major communicable diseases, prevention of enterovirus infection, research on microbial resistance and future directions of infectious diseases prevention and treatment.

Members agreed that the Department of Health of the Hong Kong would organize the 10th tripartite meeting next year.

Source: Xinhua