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The Department of Health is investigating a gastroenteritis outbreak involving 88 passengers and four crew members on board a cruise ship which arrived in Hong Kong this morning (May 30).
The cruise ship, carrying 639 passengers and 465 crew members, left Singapore for Hong Kong on May 20. During the voyage, the ship stopped in Ko Samui and Bangkok, Thailand, as well as Ho Chi Minh City and Da Nang, Vietnam.
A department spokesman said staff from the Port Health Office and the Centre for Health Protection this morning boarded the ship to conduct an investigation and advise control measures.
Initial investigations revealed that 88 passengers (44 male and 44 female, aged from three to 83 years) and four crew members developed symptoms of gastroenteritis including watery diarrhoea, vomiting, and fever between May 21 and 29.
None of them required hospitalisation. Seventy of them have already recovered while the others are in stable condition after treatment by the doctor on board the ship.
Samples from the patients will be collected for laboratory examination. Further investigation and medical surveillance are on-going.
The spokesman said health advice had been provided to the passengers and crew.
"People suffering from gastroenteritis on board the cruise ship should report to the ship's medical staff immediately," he said.
The ship will be thoroughly disinfected before boarding of further passengers. The crew of the ship have also been advised to observe personal and food hygiene.
The spokesman called on the cruise industry to be vigilant for gastroenteritis among passengers and crew. They are advised to publicise proper hand-washing techniques among people on board and report illness as soon as possible.
"Thorough disinfection of the ship during cruises, especially frequently touched surfaces such as handrails and elevator buttons should be carried out during cruises and housekeepers should ensure adequate disinfection of vomitus (1 part of 5% household bleach in 49 parts of water)," the spokesman said.
To prevent contracting gastroenteritis, travellers are advised to-
* Ensure proper personal hygiene;
* Wash hands thoroughly before eating and after using toilet or handling vomitus or faecal matter;
* Avoid food that is not thoroughly cooked.
People can obtain more information on the prevention of gastroenteritis from the department's website (http://www.dh.gov.hk) or call the Central Health Education Unit hotline, 2833 0111.
For the latest information on infectious diseases in other places and relevant preventive measures, people may visit the department's Hong Kong Travel Health Service Website http://www.travelhealth.gov.hk.
Ends/Wednesday, May 30, 2007
Issued at HKT 15:00
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