Ends/Wednesday, December 14, 2011
Issued at HKT 12:30
Excerpt:
The Centre for Food Safety has also been assisting the University of Hong Kong in conducting research and surveillance on influenza activity in pigs at the slaughterhouse. Recent surveillance results revealed that a swine influenza H3N2 virus that had picked up genes of the influenza A (H1N1) 2009 virus, detected at the Sheung Shui Slaughterhouse, was different from the swine-origin triple reassortant influenza A (H3N2) (S-OtrH3N2) virus in the US.
Under the Prevention and Control of Disease Ordinance (Cap. 599), at present type A influenza viruses (H2, H5, H7 and H9) are notifiable infectious diseases. The Government will continue to closely monitor the development of influenza globally and locally, and strengthen its liaison with WHO, Mainland and overseas health authorities. We will also pay particular attention to whether there is a genetic mutation of the virus and whether viral virulence and transmissibility have increased. If necessary, we will make amendments to the legislation to include other viruses as statutorily notifiable diseases.
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