The number of people contracting SARS on a steady decline in Hong
Kong is an optimistic and the best sign of the excellent work Hong
Kong has done in combating SARS, a WHO expert said here Monday.
Leader of WHO epidemiologists team Udo Buchholz made the remarks at
a press conference to introduce four environmental experts to
assist the Hong Kong Department of Health to further investigate
risk factors involved in the possible environmental transmission of
SARS in residential buildings.
Buchholz noted, "The Hong Kong health and environment authorities
have done an excellent job in investigating SARS outbreaks in
residential buildings including Amoy Gardens and the Metropole
Hotel.
"The WHO environmental team will work hand in hand with the Hong
Kong authorities to see where value can be added and to determine
together what leads are the best ones to follow," he added.
The environmental team headed by Heinz Feldmann, visited the Public
Health Laboratory earlier Monday, where they accessed facilities to
analyze environmental samples.
Residential estates that the environmental team will inspect in
around three weeks include the Hing Tung Lau, Amoy Gardens,
Metropole Hotel and Koway Court, which have witnessed the
contraction of SARS, Feldmann said.
The environmental team, all from Health Canada, have combined
expertise in mechanical ventilation, plumbing systems, airborne
monitoring and sampling.
The environmental specialists join the epidemiologists team which
has been working for some weeks in Hong Kong assisting the
Department of Health to fight against SARS.
Additional health experts from Australia may join the WHO
environmental team later depending on the number of projects agreed
to be undertaken.
(Xinhua News Agency April 28, 2003)