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Guangdong, Macau and Hong Kong's health authorities have agreed to further strengthen mutual communication and co-operation in combating communicable diseases. The consensus was reached at the 13th Tripartite Meeting on the Prevention and Control of Communicable Diseases held in Hong Kong on November 7 and 8.
During the two-day meeting, public health and medical experts of the three places reviewed their collaboration in the prevention and control of communicable diseases and the notification system. The participants had in-depth discussions and experience-sharing on the overall situation of communicable diseases in the three places, human infection by avian influenza A(H7N9), prevention and control of dengue fever and Japanese encephalitis, the latest situation of various major infectious diseases and emergency response to communicable diseases.
After thorough discussions, the meeting reached the following consensus:
* to continue stepping up communication and co-operation in the preparedness and response to human infection by avian influenza A(H7N9) to minimise the public health risk in the three places.
* to foster co-operation in scientific researches on infectious diseases, including human infection by avian influenza A(H7N9) and mosquito-borne infections.
* to continue implementing thoroughly the agreement of co-operation in public health emergencies in the three places.
* to continue refining the notification system.
* to continue co-operation on exchanges and training of health care professionals in disease surveillance, outbreak investigations, field epidemiology, contingency management, laboratory testing, infection control and clinical management.
Members agreed that the Health Bureau of Macau SAR would organise the 14th Tripartite Meeting on the Prevention and Control of Communicable Diseases.
Participating at the meeting were the Deputy Director General of the Health and Family Planning Commission of Guangdong Province, Mr Chen Zhusheng; the Deputy Director of the Health Bureau of Macau SAR, Dr Cheang Seng Ip; the Director of Health of Hong Kong SAR, Dr Constance Chan and about 60 experts in communicable diseases from the three places.
Ends/Friday, November 8, 2013
Issued at HKT 17:46
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