Indoor Air Quality in Hong Kong

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?????? HOW TO PREVENT INFLUENZA
?????????? Central Health Education
Unit DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH October 2005
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What is Influenza?

• Influenza (flu)
• is a highly infectious viral disease
• caused by various types of influenza viral
  strains

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Seasonal Influenza
In Hong Kong, the disease is more common in
periods from January to March and from July to
August.
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GOPC General Out-patient Clinics GP General
Practitioners
Consultation rate of influenza-like illness and
number of influenza isolates in 2004
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Influenza Pandemic

• 3 pre-requisites for the start of an Influenza
  Pandemic
• ? A novel influenza virus subtype emerges and
  humans in general have no immunity against it
• ? The new virus must be able to replicate in
  humans and cause serious illness
• ? The new virus must be efficiently transmitted
  from one human to another

Photo source from CDC
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Influenza pandemic Vs Seasonal Influenza

• When compared to localised seasonal influenza
  epidemic, the influenza pandemic
• Spreads quicker and broader
• Usually associates with higher severity of
  illness and a higher death toll
• Has more serious consequences, greater social and
  economic impact

Photo source from CDC
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The relationship with Avian Influenza

• The Hong Kong 1997 experience and the recent
  situation in Vietnam have demonstrated the
  pandemic potential of H5N1
• The threat of H5N1 to human health is closely
  related to the outbreaks of HPAI (Highly
  Pathogenic Avian Influenza) in poultry
• The surveillance of potential virus responsible
  for pandemic influenza is an important part of
  contingency preparedness

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Preparedness Plan for Influenza Pandemic

• The Government's 3-tier response system for
  handling major infectious disease outbreaks
• Alert Response Level
• Serious Response Level
• Emergency Response Level

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Alert Response Level

• Scenarios
• Confirmation of highly pathogenic avian influenza
  (HPAI) outbreaks in poultry populations outside
  Hong Kong
• Confirmation of HPAI in Hong Kong in imported
  birds in quarantine, in wild birds, in
  recreational parks, in pet bird shops or in the
  natural environment
• Confirmation of human case(s) of avian influenza
  outside Hong Kong

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Actions from Public Alert Level

• Maintain normal way of life
• Pay attention to further announcements
• from the Government

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Serious Response Level

• Scenarios
• Confirmation of HPAI outbreaks in the environment
  of or among poultry population in retail markets,
  wholesale markets, farms in Hong Kong due to a
  strain with known human health impact
• Confirmation of human case(s) of avian influenza
  in Hong Kong without evidence of efficient
  human-to-human transmission

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Actions from Public - Serious Level

• Maintain normal way of life
• Prepare enough masks for possible
• exigencies
• Pay attention to and comply with
• guidelines issued by the Government

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Emergency Response Level

• Scenarios
• Evidence of efficient human-to-human transmission
  of novel influenza overseas or in Hong Kong
• Influenza pandemic

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Actions from Public - Emergency Level

• Use mask appropriately
• Pay attention to and comply with
• guidelines issued by the Government

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Current level ?
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Why Should We Prevent Influenza

• Changeable surface antigens of
  influenza viruses
• Potential threat
• Antigenic drift
• (minor changes)
• Seasonal influenza
• 
  

Antigenic shift (major changes)
Emergence of pandemic strain
Influenza pandemic
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How to Prevent

• Avoid touching live birds and poultry and their
  droppings
• After contact with live birds and poultry, wash
  hands thoroughly with liquid soap and water
  immediately
• Poultry and eggs should be thoroughly cooked
  before eating
• Travellers returning from areas with reported
  avian flu outbreaks should consult doctors
  promptly if they have symptoms of influenza after
  the trip. Let the doctors know the travel history
  and wear a mask to prevent spread of the disease
  

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How to Prevent

• Ensure good ventilation
• Avoid visiting crowded places with poor
  ventilation
• Prevent the trap of drainage pipe from drying
  and
• disinfect drain outlets. Pour half a litre of
  water into
• each drain outlet and add 1 teaspoon of 199
  diluted
• household bleach solution into the outlet once
  a week
• Keep your home clean, wipe furniture and toilet
  with
• 199 diluted household bleach solution once a
  day

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How to Prevent

• 8 Steps to Protect Yourself
• Individual preparedness
• Before the pandemic comes
• When the pandemic comes

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8 Steps To Protect Yourself
Step 1 Be prepared Step 2 Get
vaccinated Step 3 Keep hands clean Step 4
Use mask properly
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8 Steps To Protect Yourself
Step 5 Know how influenza presents Step 6
Manage fever well Step 7 Practise healthy
lifestyle Step 8 Be resourceful
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Step 1 Be Prepared
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Step 1 Be Prepared

• Build up good personal hygiene
• wash hands frequently
• wear mask when symptoms of
• respiratory tract infection develop
• cover mouth and nose with tissue
• when coughing or sneezing and
• dispose of soiled tissue properly in a
• lidded rubbish bin
• avoid touching eyes, mouth or nose

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Step 1 Be Prepared
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Step 2 Get Vaccinated

• Seasonal peaks Jan - Mar / Jul Aug
• Influenza vaccination
• one of the effective means of preventing
  influenza and its complications
• Influenza vaccination is recommended to special
  groups

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Step 2 Get Vaccinated
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Step 2 Get Vaccinated

• People not suitable to
• receive influenza vaccination
• Allergic to eggs, neomycin, etc
• Allergic to previous dose of
• influenza vaccine
• With bleeding disorders or on
• warfarin
• ? deep subcutaneous injection
• Suffer from acute febrile illness
• ? receive when recover

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Step 2 Get Vaccinated

• Two weeks after vaccination
• ? antibodies develop and
• provide protection
• Immunity declines over time

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Step 2 Get Vaccinated
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Step 3 Keep Hands Clean
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Step 3 Keep Hands Clean
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Step 3 Keep Hands Clean
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Step 4 Use Mask Properly
outward
Inward
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Step 4 Use Mask Properly
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Step 4 Use Mask Properly

• Points to note about wearing a surgical mask
• The mask should fit snugly over the face
• Try not to touch the mask once it is secured on
  your face. If you must do so, wash your hands
  before and after touching the mask
• When taking off the mask, avoid touching the
  outside of the mask

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Step 4 Use Mask Properly

• Points to note about wearing a surgical mask
• After taking off the mask, put the mask into a
  plastic or paper bag before putting it into a
  rubbish bin with a lid
• A surgical mask should be changed at least daily
• Replace the mask immediately if it is damaged or
  soiled

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Step 5 Know How Influenza Presents
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Step 6 Manage Fever Well
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Step 6 Manage Fever Well
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Step 6 Manage Fever Well
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Step 7 Practise Healthy Lifestyle

• Is one of the most effective ways to prevent
  communicable diseases
• To lead a healthy lifestyle
• Eat a balanced diet
• Get regular exercise
• Do not smoke
• Have adequate rest
• ? build up body resistance

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Step 7 Practise Healthy Lifestyle

• Major components of
• a balanced diet
• A variety of food
• Whole grains as the major component of each meal
• Plenty of fruits and vegetables
• Adequate amounts of fluids

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Step 7 Practise Healthy Lifestyle

• Eat adequate amounts of lean meat or beans, and
  reduced fat dairy products
• Avoid processed or preserved food and food that
  is rich in fat, cholesterol, salt and sugar
• Have regular meals

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Step 7 Practise Healthy Lifestyle

• Regular exercise
• 30 minutes every day /
• accumulate exercise time in multiple sessions
  not less than 10 minutes each
• Physical activity of moderate intensity
• ? builds up cardiovascular endurance
• ? enhances heart and lung functions and blood
  circulation
• ? improves health

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Step 8 Be Resourceful
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Knowledge can alleviate fear

• Before crisis comes Go through Influenza
  Pandemic Preparedness Kit
• During the pandemic Up-to-date and accurate
  information government advice available through
  pamphlets, posters, websites, hotlines the
  media

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• Be prepared in advance
• Understand Influenza
• Work Together
• Prevent the PANDEMIC

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?? THANK YOU