February 11, 2001
The Department of Health (DH) this (February 11) afternoon said a girl who had taken a "homemade" herbal pill purportedly prescribed by a Chinese medicine practitioner in Tin Shui Wai, Yuen Long, was receiving treatment for lead intoxication in hospital and was in stable condition.
The girl was admitted into hospital yesterday (February 10) after the report on her blood test showed high lead level. She had telephoned the DH Hotline 2961 8883 and was referred to a DH Regional Office for screening and blood test.
Three women and three more children were still in hospital for the same treatment and they were also in stable condition.
During the 24-hour period ending at 3 pm today (February 11), the DH Hotline 2961 8883 had received 1 telephone call, bringing the total number of telephone calls received to 439.
The total number of callers who had been referred to DH's Regional Offices was 92.
The DH Hotline is manned by health care professionals from 9 am to 9 pm today (February 11) and telephone recording is available during the remaining 12 hours of the day.
Starting tomorrow (February 12) the Hotline will be manned from 9 am to 5 pm and telephone recording will continue to be available during the remaining hours of the day.
The Hotline was set up on Monday (February 5) as part of the investigation by DH into a report of lead intoxication associated with the "homemade" herbal pill "Bao Ning Dan" prescribed by the Chinese medicine practitioner.