With vigilance slipping and a hard-pressed health system, is Hong Kong ready for the next deadly epidemic?
Sars heroes caution that it is always possible for the virus to make a comeback – and that ‘the son of Sars’ had already emerged in the shape of the Middle East respiratory syndrome
Hong Kong is now better equipped in some ways after battling Sars back in 2003, but experts warn of the city losing its vigilance against emerging threats and the dangers of an overwhelmed public health care system.
After the outbreak killed 299 people in the city, the government established the Centre for Health Protection to strengthen surveillance of communicable diseases in communities. Public hospitals also increased the number of designated isolation beds to 1,400, compared with just a handful scattered among various specialties before the epidemic, with 500 available immediately and the rest ready within 72 hours.
Why Sars still lingers in minds of many Hongkongers, 15 years on
Fifteen years ago, cross-border surveillance was basically non-existent but now there is a sophisticated and comprehensive network.
In addition, medical practitioners are more experienced, and there is greater public awareness.
Still, experts cautioned it would always be possible for the Sars virus to make a comeback. This is especially true for a city that is a regional transport interchange and situated at an infectious diseases hotspot.
In fact, experts warned that “the son of Sars” had already emerged in the shape of the Middle East respiratory syndrome (Mers) coronavirus.