Press Release

Update on cholera

October 9, 2000

The Department of Health (DH) today (October 9) urged members of the public to be on guard against cholera following the confirmation of an imported cholera case in Hong Kong.

A spokesman for DH said: "The best way to prevent cholera and other food-borne diseases is to observe good personal, food and environmental hygiene at all times."

The case involved a 22-year-old woman from Indonesia. She arrived in Hong Kong on September 29 and developed watery diarrhoea the following day.

She was admitted to hospital on October 4 and is now in stable condition.

Health education was given to the patient's home contacts who were asymptomatic. Disinfection work was carried out at her home.

The spokesman advised the public to take the following measures when travelling outside Hong Kong:

• Eat only thoroughly cooked food and food fresh from sealed packs or cans;
• Do not eat cold dish such as salad and ice cream;
• Drink only boiled water, canned or bottled drinks, pasteurised milk or dairy products;
• Do not add ice in drinks and do not drink fresh fruit juice prepared beforehand;
• Do not patronise illegal food hawkers; and
• Do not eat fruits that have been peeled and fruits and vegetables that are not thoroughly cleansed.

Eight confirmed cholera cases were reported in Hong Kong this (2000) year . Of these, four were imported cases and the other four were local cases.