According to a press release issued by the Hong Kong government's Information Services Department, at the two-day meeting, the three parties have agreed to extend the present notification mechanism on Infectious Atypical Pneumonia.

"The existing point-to-point information exchange set-up between certain health units of Hong Kong and Guangdong will further be expanded to health administrative structures, disease surveillance and control as well as medical sectors of the three places," it said.

Noting that effective tracing of cases and source of infection is paramount to the surveillance and control of disease, the three sides agreed to strengthen the network of information flow on infectious diseases and arrange the exchange of experts' visits, it said.

Experts of the three sides will continue to actively explore and study the characteristics of infectious diseases, as the basis and reference to the setting up of a medical facility for admission and treatment of patients with infectious diseases, it said.

On infection control and clinical treatment of Infectious Atypical Pneumonia, the three places saw the need for further enhancing the exchange of information and cooperation, in particular, information interflow on infection control in hospitals, data analysis on epidemic situation and clinical treatment, it said, adding that this will enable the three places to have more complete information on the prevention and treatment of the disease.

To safeguard public health and contain the spread of infectious diseases, the three places agreed to expand the list of notifiable infectious diseases including AIDS, dengue fever, influenza, tuberculosis, cholera and malaria, it said, adding that the information includes cumulative case reports, the number of deathsand patients discharged.

The three places will also notify each other the latest situation under special circumstances. The three places agreed to discuss in the next meeting the prevention and control of seasonal infectious diseases, like dengue fever, the press release said.

The three places agreed to further enhance cooperation on scientific research and set up mutual visit program for professionals and technical staff, it said.

The program covers professionals and technical staff engaged indifferent scope of works including epidemiological investigations, pathological studies and clinical treatment. Information exchange and cooperation on blending the merits of Western and Chinese medicines will also be enhanced, it said.

The second meeting of Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Expert Group on Prevention and Treatment of Infectious Atypical Pneumonia will be held in Macao on Aug. 2, it said.

(People's Daily June 1, 2003)