XN000022-1978-09-02 — Page 5

SATURDAY,

SEPTEMBER 2, 1978

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CERTIFICATES OF VACCINATION AGAINST SMALLPOX

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THE HONG KONG HEALTH AUTHORITY MAY ENFORCE INTERNATIONAL HEALTH REQUIREMENTS WHEREBY ARRIVALS FROM SMALLPOX INFECTED AREAS WOULD HAVE TO POSSESS VALID CERTIFICATES OF VACCINATION AGAINST THE DISEASE.

A SPOKESMAN FOR THE MEDICAL AND HEALTH DEPARTMENT SAID TODAY THAT INFORMATION RECEIVED FROM THE UNITED KINGDOM SO FAR HAS

INDICATED THAT THE COUNTRY IS LIKELY TO BE DECLARED A SMALLPOX INFECTED AREA.

HE SAID THE DEPARTMENT WOULD MAKE A DECISION, ONE WAY OR THE OTHER, NEXT TUESDAY OR WEDNESDAY WHEN THE WORLD HEALTH ORGANISATION'S WEEKLY EPIDEMIOLOGICAL RECORDS BECOME AVAILABLE, TO ALL MEMBER COUNTRIES INFORMING THEM OF THE SITUATION IN THE CURRENT SMALLPOX OUTBREAK IN BIRMINGHAM.

ACCORDING TO WHO RECOMMENDATIONS, A VACCINATION CERTIFICATE IS REQUIRED FROM TRAVELLERS WHO, WITHIN THE PRECEDING 14 DAYS, HAVE VISITED A SMALLPOX INFECTED COUNTRY AS REFLECTED IN THE WHO'S WEEKLY EPIDEMIOLOGICAL RECORDS.

THE SPOKESMAN STRESSED THAT PENDING THE RECEIPT OF THE EPIDEMIOLOGICAL RECORDS, TRAVELLERS FROM THE UNITED KINGDOM ARE PRESENTLY NOT REQUIRED TO PRODUCE SMALLPOX VACCINATION CERTIFICATES FOR ENTRY INTO HONG KONG.

HOWEVER, HE ADVISED THAT PEOPLE INTENDING TO TRAVEL TO THE UNITED KINGDOM IN THE NEXT WEEK OR SO TO GET THEMSELVES PREPARED BY POSSESSING AN INTERNATIONAL CERTIFICATE OF VACCINATION AGAINST SMALLPOX.

+THIS IS BECAUSE BY THE TIME THEY RETURN TO HONG KONG THEY MIGHT BE REQUIRED TO COMPLY WITH THE INTERNATIONAL HEALTH REGULATIONS WHICH MAY BE INTRODUCED AT ANY TIME NOW, HE ADDED.

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