*************************************************
The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health received notification from the Department of Health of Guangdong Province last night (October 5) of a confirmed case of cholera involving a 29-year-old woman living in Shenzhen.
The patient and her husband joined a tour group from Hong Kong traveling to Thailand between September 27 and October 1. The woman developed watery diarrhea and vomiting on October 1. She was admitted to a Shenzhen hospital on October 2. She is still hospitalised and is now in stable condition.
Laboratory tests conducted by Shenzhen health authority yesterday showed that her stool specimen yielded positive result for Vibrio cholerae O1 El Tor Ogawa.
Her 49-year-old husband, who is living in Hong Kong, also developed watery diarrhea and vomiting on October 1 but the symptoms subsided subsequently. He was admitted to Princess Margaret Hospital for observation today. The woman's close contacts in Shenzhen are asymptomatic.
CHP is tracing the other 29 members of the tour group and will put them under medical surveillance. Preliminary investigation showed that other members of the tour group did not have symptoms.
CHP's investigation is continuing.
A CHP spokesman said, "Whether in Hong Kong or travelling abroad, members of the public should pay attention to personal hygiene and take measures to prevent cholera and food-borne infection.
Members of the public are urged to:
* Wash and cook seafood thoroughly before eating, particularly crustaceans and bivalves such as shrimp, crab, oysters and clams;
* Wash hands before eating and after going to the toilet;
* Handle raw and cooked food with separate utensils to prevent cross-contamination;
* Keep raw and cooked food separately;
* Store food in refrigerator (at 4 degrees Celsius or below) and thoroughly reheat leftover food before eating; and
* Keep the environment clean.
When travelling outside Hong Kong, they should:
* Always wash hands before eating and after going to the toilet;
* Eat only thoroughly cooked food and food from sealed packs or cans;
* Avoid cold dishes such as salad and ice-cream;
* Drink only boiled water, canned or bottled drinks, pasteurised milk or dairy products;
* Do not add ice to drinks and do not drink fresh fruit juice that has been prepared beforehand;
* Do not patronise illegal food hawkers; and
* Wash fruit thoroughly before eating and do not eat fruit that has already been peeled or cut open.
Ends/Saturday, October 6, 2007
Issued at HKT 18:03
NNNN
