A representative of WHO, Dr. Kouichi Morita, is visiting Macao in 12 April to inspect the precautionary actions Macao has taken to prevent SARS, the Health bureau confirmed in a press release today.

He is the first WHO expert to inspect Macao’s preventive measures for SARS. He will meet with the Chief Executive Edmond Ho and the Secretary for Social Affairs & Culture Chui Sai On, during his 4-days visit in Macao.

Besides, he will visit the isolation care units, emergency room, intensive care units in the two hospitals, as well as the Centre for Disease Control and Prevention and other medical facilities during his inspection in Macao, according to Health Bureau.

Officials of the bureau will brief the WHO expert on the preventive measures of Macao, in the morning of 12 April, and is scheduled to meet the press at noon. In addition, a press conference is scheduled at the completion of his 4-days investigation.

Dr. Kouichi Morita is currently a professor of Department of Virology, Institute of Tropical Medicine of Nagasaki University. He worked as the regional advisor in communicable diseases in the regional office for the Western Pacific of WHO, in 1995-1998.

Meanwhile, the Health Bureau indicated that another WHO expert would visit Macao in a short period of time.