Press Release

Cholera Update

September 9, 2001

The Department of Health (DH) today (September 9) reiterated that members of the public should be on guard against cholera following the confirmation of three cholera cases 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."

Two cases involved a 67-year-old man from Kennedy Town and a 91-year-old man from Western District. The two men had not travelled outside Hong Kong during the incubation period and the two cases were classified as local ones.

The 67-year-old man developed diarrhoea on September 5 and was admitted to Princess Margaret Hospital on September 7.

The 91-year-old man had watery stool on September 3 and was admitted to the same hospital on September 7. Both are in stable condition.

The third case involved a 28-year-old man living in Tsuen Wan. He had travelled outside Hong Kong during the incubation period. His case remained unclassified.

He had diarrhoea on September 2 and was admitted to Princess Margaret Hospital on September 7. He is also in stable condition.

Home contacts of all three cases were asymptomatic and health advice was given. The patients' homes were disinfected by the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD).

Investigations by DH and FEHD are continuing.

The spokesman said members of the public should:

• Clean and cook food, especially seafood, thoroughly;
• 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 four degrees Celcius or below) and adequately reheat leftover food before consumption; and
• Keep the environment clean.

The spokesman advised the public to take the following measures when travelling outside Hong Kong:

• Always wash hands before eating and after going to toilets;
• Eat only thoroughly cooked food and food fresh from sealed packs or cans;
• Do not eat cold dish such as salad and ice-cream;
• Drink only boiled water, canned or bottled drinks, pasteurised milk or dairy products;
• Do not add ice in drinks and do not drink fresh fruit juice prepared beforehand;
• Do not patronise illegal food hawkers; and
• Do not eat fruits that have been peeled and fruits and vegetables that are not thoroughly cleansed.

To-date 23 confirmed cholera cases were reported in Hong Kong this (2001) year. Of these, two were imported cases, 20 were local cases and one was unclassified.