City University of Hong Kong to organise “One Health” Workshop

Veterinary Public Health vital in fighting zoonoses

World Health Organisation (WHO) experts were very concerned when the first case of swine flu H1N1 was found on dogs in the Mainland. Up to now, 13 countries and territories in the world, including China, the USA, Canada and Chile have reported cases of animals being infected with swine flu.

WHO findings show “about 75% of the new diseases that have affected humans over the past 10 years have been caused by pathogens originating from an animal or from products of animal origin”.

According to a World Bank report, the effective way to deal with these zoonoses is to control them at source. Health experts around the world are advocating the importance of enhancing Veterinary Public Health and a “One World – One Health” initiative – approaching human, domestic animal and wildlife health comprehensively.

To study the close link between animal and human health and to raise the awareness of the importance of Veterinary Public Health, City University of Hong Kong is organising a One Health International Workshop on December 10. Eminent international and local scientists and scholars will be present to share their insights and experiences in the topic.

Dr York Chow, Secretary for Food and Health will officiate at the Workshop.

Speakers at the Workshop will be Professor David Ho, the world renowned AIDS expert, Professor Alfonso Torres, Professor and Associate Dean for Public Policy of College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Dr William Karesh, one of the pioneers in initiating the One World – One Health concept, Professor Elaine Watson, Dean of the Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, University of Edinburgh, Dr Che-Hung Leong, Chairman of Elderly Committee, Dr Thomas Tsang, Controller of Center for Health Protection, and Dr Howard Wong, Senior Veterinary Officer at Leisure and Cultural Services Department. A panel discussion featuring all the speakers and Dr Yap Teow Chong, WHO representative, will be moderated by Mr Anthony Wu, Chairman of the Hospital Authority.

Please refer to the attached programme of the Workshop. Media representatives are invited to cover the workshop and the luncheon. For further enquiry please contact Miss Ida Leung at 3442 6809/ 9161 3498.