Hong Kong residents guard against flu

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The second patient confirmed to have A/H1-N1 flu in Hong Kong also remains in stable condition. Hong Kong is calling on residents to strengthen epidemic control measures to avoid bringing the virus into the region.

Hong Kong Secretary for Food and Health, York Chow, says schools do not need to be closed because no breakout has occurred. But he reminds people planning to visit Europe or North America to pay attention to personal hygiene. And he says overseas students who are about to head back to Hong Kong for summer holidays should not board flights if they have flu symptoms.

Hong Kong has requested US health authorities to strengthen health checks of people leaving the country.

York Chow, HK Sec'y for Food & Health, said, "We think every country, no matter if it's America or any other country, as a member of World Health Organization, has signed the international health regulations. So to some extent, these countries are responsible for preventing patients in their countries or regions from spreading the virus to people in other places."

A spokesman for the Hong Kong Health Department said in the 24-hour period leading to noon on Friday, 25 people met the A/H-1-N-1 reporting criteria and were reported to the Center for Health Protection. Eight of them tested negative. Results for the remaining 17 are still pending.