David Heymann urges Hong Kong to maintain its vigilance against Sars
World Health Organisation official David Heymann yesterday praised Hong Kong for its handling of the Sars outbreak - but warned the city not to let its guard down.
Dr Heymann, the WHO's head of communicable diseases, told a gathering of government, business and medical professionals: 'We would like to thank Hong Kong for the transparency which has given us the information we have needed to deal with disease ... We also acknowledge the health workers who have died.' Hong Kong had shown the way in openness and transparency despite the consequences on its economy.
Dr Heymann urged Hong Kong to continue to be vigilant 'until this disease can disappear from human beings, if it can', citing Canada's experience of a second outbreak when the disease was believed contained.
He called on officials to collaborate with the mainland, particularly Guangdong, and with global authorities to fight future outbreaks.
Dr Heymann yesterday met top health officials, including Secretary for Health and Welfare Yeoh Eng-kiong as well as a group of medical professionals, and is due to meet the media today. He will accompany Dr Yeoh to a Sars conference in Kuala Lumpur and is due back in Hong Kong with the WHO's director-general later in the week.
