June 5, 2001
The Department of Health (DH) today (June 5) reminded members of the public to be on guard against cholera following the confirmation of a 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 61-year-old woman from Kwai Chung District. She had not travelled outside Hong Kong during the incubation period and the case was classified as a local one.
She was admitted to Princess Margaret Hospital on June 2 and is now in serious condition.
Health education has been given to the family members who were asymptomatic. Disinfection work was carried out by the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department at the patient's home.
The source of infection is being investigated.
To prevent getting the disease, members of the public should:
* Clean food thoroughly and ensure they are adequately cooked before consumption;
* Wash hands before eating and after going to toilets;
Raw and cooked food should be handled with separate utensils;
* Keep raw and cooked food separately;
* Store food in refrigerator(at 4 degrees celcius or below) and adequately reheat leftover food before consumption; and
* Keep the environment clean.
To-date two confirmed cholera cases were reported in Hong Kong this (2001) year, the first one being an imported case in May.