Press Release

Update on cholera

November 23, 2000

The Department of Health (DH) today (November 23) urged members of the public to be on guard against cholera following the confirmation of a local 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 30-year-old woman living in Tseung Kwan O District. She suffered from diarrhoea and vomiting on November 18 and was admitted to hospital the same day. She is now in stable condition.

DH had given health education to her family member who was asymptomatic.

The Food and Environmental Hygiene Department had disinfected the patient's home and inspected the food premises she had patronised and collected food samples for laboratory testing.

To prevent cholera, members of the public should:

• Avoid high risk food, like raw food or semi-cooked food;
• Wash hands before preparing food and after going to the toilet;
• Clean food thoroughly and ensure they are adequately cooked before consumption;
• Keep raw and cooked food separately;
• Store food in refrigerator (at 4 degrees Celsius or below) and adequately re-heat leftover food before consumption; and
• Keep the environment clean.

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