Press Release

Update on cholera

December 25, 2000

The Department of Health (DH) today (December 25) urged members of the public to be on guard against cholera following the confirmation of a cholera case.

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 60-year-old man who lives by himself. He suffered from watery diarrhoea and vomitting on December 21 and was admitted to hospital on the same day. He is now in critical condition.

DH had given health education to his family members who were asymptomatic. The Food and Environmental Hygiene Department had disinfected the patient's home.

To prevent cholera, members of the public should:

• Keep the environment clean;
• Store food in refrigerator (at 4 degrees Celsius or below) and adequately reheat leftover food before consumption;
• Clean food thoroughly;
• Wash hands before preparing food and after going to toilets;
• Keep raw and cooked food separately;
• High risk food, like seafood should be thoroughly cooked.

Twelve confirmed cholera cases were reported in Hong Kong so far this (2000) year.