Hong Kong, Nov 23: Hong Kong's Health Chief today warned people to keep up their guard against a possible resurgence of the deadly Sars virus and other infectious diseases amid a gastroenteritis outbreak. Speaking on a radio programme, health secretary Yeoh Eng-Kiong said health authorities had begun implementing measures recommended by experts from a government appointed committee which looked into the Sars outbreak earlier this year.

This included moves to set up a Centre for Health Protection in Hong Kong that would strengthen the territory's "surveillance capacity for communicable diseases", he said.

However, the recent outbreak of viral gastroenteritis, that has been linked to the norwalk-like virus, which occurs in places where there is inadequate sanitation and food is contaminated by infected people, has sparked renewed concerns of a return of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS). So far about 459 cases of gastroenteritis have been recorded since the virus first emerged last week at a school in the business district of central where 277 pupils suffered from vomiting and diarrhoea, common symptoms of the virus.

Infectious diseases such as Sars and the norwalk virus could not be stemmed by relying solely on the healthcare system and medical technology, said Yeoh.

"Personal and environmental hygiene are also of paramount importance," said Yeoh.

"Hong Kong is now approaching the peak season for flu and other viral illnesses. There is a possibility that Sars may rear its ugly head again. Bureau Report