June 7, 2001
The Department of Health (DH) today (June 7) reminded members of the public to be on guard against cholera as summer approaches.
Following the confirmation of three local cholera cases in Hong Kong today, 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 three cases involved a 40-year-old woman living in the Southern District, a 21-year-old woman in Tsing Yi and a 27-year-old man in Eastern District respectively. They suffered from diarrhoea and were admitted to Princess Margaret Hospital. All are now in stable condition.
The patients had not travelled outside Hong Kong during the incubation period and the cases were classified as local ones.
Today's (June 7) cholera cases were sporadic ones. The spokesman said there was no need for undue alarm and Hong Kong had adequate facilities to cope with the situation.
DH had given health education to the patients' family members who were all asymptomatic. The Food and Environmental Hygiene Department had disinfected the patients' homes and inspected the food premises they had patronized.
Investigations are continuing.
To prevent getting the disease, members of the public should:
To-date five confirmed cholera cases were reported in Hong Kong this (2001) year, the first one was an imported case in May and the other four cases in June were local sporadic ones.