With the number of Hong Kong's new atypical pneumonia cases falling to four on Sunday, the World Health Organization (WHO) is set to revoke its travel advisory against Hong Kong in weeks, a Hong Kong newspaper said Monday.
Such was reported by the Hong Kong Economic Times, citing remarks made by David Heymann, the WHO's executive director in charge of communicable diseases, in an exclusive interview the paper conducted.
The paper said it is understood that the Hong Kong government will continue to lobby the WHO on Monday for its cancellation of the travel advisory against Hong Kong.
Meanwhile, Heymann was also quoted as saying that the number of active cases is the least important factor when considering whether or not a travel advisory be canceled.
Earlier, Secretary for Health, Welfare and Food E.K. Yeoh quoted WHO officials as saying that the number of new cases and the identifiable transmission channels are the key information the organization considers.
(Xinhua News Agency May 12, 2003)
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