Chairman’s Announcement (28 November 2005)

The Task Force’s website has taken on a brand new look.  The announcements, guidelines and notices are classified into three categories for easier reference: Important Information, Notices and Guidelines, and Student Information.  The Campus Pandemic and Avian Flu Alert and Action Plan is displayed in the centre of the new webpage showing prominently the current alert level of avian flu on the campus.  Measures to be taken by various offices, units and Colleges will be updated constantly in this Alert and Action Plan.  Two new posters to promote good personal hygiene and prevention of avian flu are in the process of printing and will be distributed to offices for posting soon. 

The newly posted items on the Task Force’s website also include: -   Presentations at the Avian Flu talks -   Video clip “Avian Flu” (Chinese version only, for viewing via CUHK Intranet)   -   Medical Screening for Avian Flu in UHS -   Herbal Decoctions for the Prevention and Treatment of Influenza (provided by the School of Chinese Medicine, CUHK, for reference)

The Centre for Health Protection has prepared a list of useful guidelines for health professional and the general public on prevention of avian flu.  Please check them out on the Influenza Page of the CHP website.

Chairman's Announcement (22 November 2005)

The forthcoming talk on avian flu organized by the CUHK Campus (SARS/Avian Flu) Task Force to keep staff and students informed of the latest knowledge and preventive measures of the disease will be held on 25 Nov 2005.  A briefing session for Mainland students is also arranged to be held on 26 Nov 2005.

Talk on Pandemic Preparation for Avian Flu/Influenza

Date:                25 Nov 2005 (Friday)
Time:                5:30 pm - 6:30 pm
Venue:              T Y Wong Hall, 5/F, Ho Sin-Hang Engineering Building
Speakers:          Prof Paul Chan (Microbiology Dept), Dr T F Lo (UHS), Mr S K Lam (USEO)

Language:         Chinese

Briefing for Mainland Students

Date:                 26 Nov 2005 (Saturday)

Time:                10:30 am - 12 noon

Venue:              LT4, Esther Lee Building

Speakers:          Representatives of UHS and USEO

Language:         Putonghua

Chairman's Announcement (21 November 2005)

Following the reports of two human cases of avian influenza in Hunan and Anhui, the Department of Health has re-activated temperature screening for incoming travellers at Lowu and Lok Ma Chau border control check points.  This arrangement will also be implemented at other immigration control points at later stages.  Please visit the website of Centre for Health Protection on the announcement on Temperature Screening arrangements http://www.chp.gov.hk/view_content.asp?lang=en&info_id=4679. 

To safeguard the health of fellow students and staff, the Task Force recommends all staff and students to observe the Guidelines for Travelling on outgoing trips and returning Hong Kong from abroad.  Useful travel advice can also be obtained on the website of Hong Kong Travel Health Service of the Department of Health. 

Antiviral drugs are useful to reduce morbidity and mortality when a pandemic occurs.  With increased interest on the antiviral drugs such as Tamiflu, the University Health Service has prepared information on the Use of Antivirals for Pandemic Influenza.  Antiviral drugs are doctor-prescribed medications.  The Food and Drug Administration of United States is closely monitoring the side effects of the Tamiflu.

Please keep updated on the website of Centre for Health Protection, Department of Health for latest development of avian influenza, and also on the Task Force website for latest news on campus.

Chairman's Announcement (17 November 2005)

The Talks on Pandemic Preparation for Avian Flu/Influenza held in the past 2 weeks were well attended by over 1,000 attendees.  The forthcoming talk will be held on 25 Nov 2005, details as follows:

All students and staff are welcome!

In view of the large number of students living in hostels, the Task Force will organize focus group meeting with hostel wardens and student representatives on preventive measures of Avian Flu at student hostels.  As there have been reports of avian flu outbreaks in a number of provinces in Mainland, the Task Force is also planning to hold a focus group meeting with Mainland students, many of whom will return home during term break.

Professor Liang Songming of School of Chinese Medicine has kindly provided several herbal decoctions for the prevention and treatment of influenza for reference.  It can be accessed via http://www.cuhk.edu.hk/sars_and_flu/herbal_decoction.pdf on our website.

Chairman's Announcement (10 November 2005)

The Talks on Pandemic Preparation for Avian Flu/Influenza conducted on 1, 7, 8 and 9 Nov 2005 were well attended by colleagues, with over 1,000 attendees.  With the kind permission of the speakers, the powerpoint presentations at the Talks have been posted on the “Special Information and Talks on Flu/Avian Flu” on the Task Force website.  Those who were not able to attend the forum are welcome to go through these posted presentations.

Talk on Pandemic Preparation for Avian Flu/Influenza

• Prof Paul Chan, Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine [PDF]

• Dr T F Lo, University Health Service [PDF]

• Mr S K Lam, University Safety & Environment Office [PDF]

Two more Talks will be held on 15 Nov at 1pm to 2pm and on 25 Nov at 5:30pm to 6:30pm, at T Y Wong Hall, 5/F, Ho Sin-Hang Engineering Building.

Please also refer to the Government’s advice for the public on seasonal influenza, avian influenza and influenza pandemic produced by the Centre for Health Protection, Department of Health, which can be accessed on the Centre for Health Protection website.

A specially-designed banner has been put up on the CUHK homepage to provide easy access to the Task Force website.  Please keep updated on our website.

Chairman's Announcement (8 November 2005)

At its meeting held on 1 Nov 2005, the Task Force resolved to change its name to “CUHK Campus (SARS/Avian Flu) Task Force” to reflect its role in advising the University, staff and students on preventive measures against Avian Flu. 

 Our action on campus to date

 A.    General Advice

• The Task Force advises everybody should maintain good personal hygiene, wear masks when you have respiratory symptoms, consult doctors if you are unwell and maintain a clean environment.  

• Avian flu is transmitted from infected birds to people.  Currently there is no vaccine for preventing avian flu in people.  Avoid contact with live birds or poultry and their droppings.  If you have been in contact with live birds and poultry, immediately wash your hands thoroughly with liquid soap and water. 

• Refer regularly to the websites of the Task Force and the Centre for Health Protection, Department of Health, for useful information, guidelines and health advice.

B.     Communications

• Talks and briefing sessions on avian flu/influenza are being organized for various groups of staff and student audience.  The upcoming talks are:

• Mrs. Pauline Kan of University Health Service (UHS) is serving as the Information Coordinator to follow up on fever or infected cases and to update the university community on the latest development on influenza.

• Information on the nature and prevention of Influenza and Avian Influenza is posted on the Task Force website. 

C.    UHS Action

• UHS continues to screen questionnaires of all hostel resident students returning from abroad. 

• All patients attending UHS with respiratory tract infections will be requested to have their temperature screened and to indicate their history of recent travel.

• UHS maintains an appropriate stock of masks, PPE, and treatment medication to prepare for any massive increase of influenza cases.

• UHS provides influenza vaccination to students, staff and dependents, and schedules free vaccination for those belonging to the high risk groups. 

D.    UHS & Other Units

• UHS and University Safety & Environment Office (USEO) contacted the Biology, Anatomy Departments, the Laboratory Animal Services Centre to monitor the poultry that they may be keeping.

• Estates Management Office (EMO) arranged for putting up signage to advise visitors not to feed or contact the birds and ducks at Weiyuan Lake (未圓湖).  USEO contracted the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department to provide vaccine to inoculate the ducks.

• USEO and EMO provided guidelines to its staff in handling birds, feathers and droppings, and carcasses.

• UHS and Business Office inspect all university canteens to ensure environmental hygiene.

• USEO conducted testing on the stock of surgical masks kept at the Business Office to ensure their efficiency.

E.     Campus (SARS/Avian Flu) Task Force

• The Task Force will continue to monitor the situation overseas, in Hong Kong as well as on campus, keep all in the university informed, and update all prevention and control strategies.