13 July 2004
Dear Doctor,
Amendment to the Quarantine and Prevention of Disease Ordinance, Cap. 141
The Director of Health issued an Order on 12 July 2004 to amend the First Schedule to the Quarantine and Prevention of Disease Ordinance (Cap. 141) by adding Japanese encephalitis to the list of infectious diseases specified in that Schedule. Another Order to add this disease to Form 2 of the Schedule to the Prevention of the Spread of Infectious Diseases Regulations (Cap. 141 sub. leg. B) has also been issued as a consequence of the inclusion of this disease in the list of statutorily notifiable diseases. The two Orders will come into effect on 16 July 2004 upon gazettal.
Recently there have been three local Japanese encephalitis (JE) cases confirmed in Hong Kong. This compares with two local cases in the past ten years (1994-2003). In view of this recent development, the severity of the disease, and the opportunity for effective public health intervention through early diagnosis and reporting, I hope you agree that there is a good case to make JE a statutorily notifiable disease.
Medical practitioners are required to report suspected or confirmed cases of JE to the Director of Health in accordance with Form 2 under Regulation 4 of the Prevention of the Spread of Infectious Diseases Regulations. Notification can be made directly to Central Notification Office, Centre for Health Protection at telephone number 24772772 and fax number 24772770. I enclose an updated notification form for reporting infectious disease ( Form 2 ), which can also be downloaded from the website of Centre for Health Protection ( www.chp.gov.hk/ ). A fact sheet on JE is also attached for your information.
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(Dr. Thomas TSANG)
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for Director of Health
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