As the world went on pandemic alert for the first time in 41 years last night, Chief Executive Donald Tsang Yam-kuen issued a "don't panic" message to the people of Hong Kong.Hours after the city confirmed its first locally transmitted human swine flu (H1N1) cases and ordered the closure of all primary schools, kindergartens and nurseries for 14 days, Tsang moved to assure the public that everything is being done to contain the spread of the virus.
After an emergency meeting of the flu steering committee, Tsang called on the public to "work wholeheartedly together to stamp out its spread."
At midnight, the World Health Organization declared a phase six pandemic alert - the first time it has done so since Hong Kong Flu in 1968. Around one million people died worldwide.
WHO director-general Margaret Chan Fung Fu-chun made the decision after a meeting with an emergency committee of flu experts. Despite the declaration, Tsang moved to allay public fears. "For members of the public, there is no need for panic, but there is every need for staying alert and paying heightened attention to personal and community hygiene," he said.
About 600,000 children will be affected by the school closures order and there have been suggestions the suspension of classes may be extended beyond June 25 into July when the term ends.
The order came after 12 students at St Paul's Convent School (Secondary Section) in Causeway Bay were confirmed to have the virus in the first local clust
er of cases. Health officials have been unable to trace the source. On Wednesday, a 16-year-old girl at the school was feared to have become the city's first non-imported case. Eleven of the girls were classmates while the 12th was from another class. Six of them had been to a karaoke and one had attended a tutorial center in Pennington Street, which has since suspended classes, a source said.
Secretary for Food and Health York Chow Yat-ngok said normal activities such as conferences, exhibitions and public events should not be interrupted but those with flu symptoms should stay at home or wear masks when they go out. He also called on public transport operators and event organizers to step up disinfection and cleaning.
Tsang said: "I believe that fellow citizens and the government have done all we can in postponing the arrival of the first indigenous case.
"To win this fight against the swine flu, the government and the people of Hong Kong must unite and work wholeheartedly together to stamp out its spread. I am confident that together, we can do it." Chow said Hong Kong has now moved from the containment to the mitigation phase.
The Centre for Health Protection will no longer perform tracing of social contacts given that the disease has already taken root, Chow said.
From tomorrow, the Hospital Authority will open eight designated clinics to treat patients with flu symptoms. The number will be increased if necessary. It has 1,400 isolation beds in place.
Authority director Leung Pak-yin said if the situation deteriorates and more patients need hospital care, the isolation beds will be turned over for treatment and non-emergency services will be curtailed.
Current measures at checkpoints, such as health declarations and temperature screening, will be strictly enforced and all departure and transfer passengers will be advised not to travel if they have fever or flu symptoms.
Chow admitted it remains uncertain whether schools will reopen on June 25.
"Hopefully we will have a clearer picture about the virus in about two weeks' time. But we can't come to any conclusion at this moment," Chow said. He also advised high-risk groups - health-care workers, the elderly, young people, pregnant women and chronic patients - to take special care.
To lower the risk of infection, parents should not send their children to playgroups and tutorial classes. In addition they should not share toys, towels and eating utensils with other children.
Chow also warned parents not to give young children aspirin unless approved by a doctor, as this could raise the risk of Reye's Syndrome, a rare but deadly illness that can affect the liver and brain.
Chow said the government has no plans to suspend secondary schools for the time being.
He denied suggestions Hong Kong has overreacted by pointing out that half of those who have died from swine flu overseas had been healthy.
"All our measures are taken to go an extra mile in our fight against a pandemic. At the same time, life must go on, but only with the necessary hightened precautions and social distancing."
The Department of Health last night announced school dental care services for primary students and student health services for primary and secondary students will be suspended from today.
Hong Kong has 14 new confirmed cases of human swine flu including those from St Paul's Convent School, taking the toll to 63.
