Press Release

Health advice as cholera cases reported

October 16, 2001

The Department of Health (DH) today (October 16) reminded members of the public to be on guard against cholera following the confirmation of a local cholera case in Hong Kong.

A spokesman for DH said : "We should always be vigilant because cholera is an endemic disease."

"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 55-year-old man living in Yau Ma Tei District. He suffered from diarrhoea and was admitted to Princess Margaret Hospital yesterday (October 15). He is now in serious condition.

The patient had not travelled outside Hong Kong during the incubation period and the case was classified as a local one.

DH and the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department are investigating the case. Health education was given to the patient and disinfection work was carried out.

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 37 confirmed cholera cases were reported in Hong Kong this (2001) year. Of these, 13 were imported and the other 24 were local cases.