Chairman’s Announcement (18 July 2005)

Be prepared for Influenza and Avian Influenza

WHO sent a team of international experts to Vietnam last month and reported that although there is no laboratory evidence suggesting that the H5N1 virus is spreading readily among humans, but the current level of pandemic alert since January 2004 remains unchanged.  The most recently detected case of human avian influenza was reported in Vietnam in early June 2005.  From January to 13 July 2005, there were 64 confirmed human cases of Avian Influenza with 22 deaths (4 in Cambodia and 18 in Vietnam).

Various types of influenza viral strains can cause Influenza.  The consultation rates for Influenza-like-illness locally in the Government OPD and private practitioners are still on the high aspect (11.4 per 1,000 consultation and 84.8 per 1,000 consultation respectively).  Members of the university are reminded to maintain good personal and environmental hygiene at all times to prevent the infection.  The new strain of Influenza vaccine will be available in early September this year.  The new strains this year are Type A New Caledonia (H1N1), Type A California (H3N2) and Type B Shanghai.  Vaccination campaign will be held on Sept 22 and 23.  Details will be announced when the vaccines arrive.

Dengue Fever

The Food and Environmental Hygiene Department has warned that the ovitrap indices in June has risen sharply which means the increasing of Aedes Albopictus activities and we are vulnerable to the threat of dengue fever.

The highest district ovitrap indices (39.2%) were found in Taipo North, which is adjacent to our university.  Tightening control on mosquito breeding is the most effective way to guard against dengue fever.  The University Safety and Environment Office has placed 12 insect traps in the campus in the last two months, both indoor and outdoor to collect and study the quantity and different kinds of mosquito lava.  Three studies have been analyzed that part of the samples collected were found to be Aedes Albopictus which can cause Dengue Fever.

The Estate Management Office, together with the Environmental Hygiene of the Safety Advisory Committee have mounted special operations to clean up the environment and remove mosquito breeding grounds.  For details, please visit the UHS webpage at http://www.cuhk.edu.hk/uhs/dochtml/news1.html